Textile recycling company SOEX files for administration

The textile recycling industry has taken a significant hit with the insolvency filing of SOEX, one of Germany’s key textile recyclers. SOEX, known for processing used textiles and shoes in its recycling plant, has long been at the forefront of efforts to reduce textile waste. However, due to financial difficulties, the company has now filed for administration, marking a major setback for the push toward sustainable fashion.

SOEX’s impact extended beyond recycling. Through its subsidiary, I:Collect, SOEX facilitated clothing take-back schemes for some of the world’s biggest fashion brands, including H&M, Levi's, Columbia Sportswear, and Decathlon. These programs allowed consumers to return their old clothing for recycling, promoting circularity and helping reduce fashion waste. With SOEX’s insolvency, the future of these take-back schemes may be uncertain, potentially slowing down the fashion industry’s progress toward sustainability.

In 2021, SOEX also participated in “Sorting for Circularity,” a project led by BESTSELLER and Fashion for Good, with support from adidas, Zalando, and Inditex. The initiative aimed to create stronger connections between textile sorters and recyclers, ensuring that post-consumer textiles could be sorted efficiently for recycling. SOEX’s role in this project demonstrated its commitment to fostering collaboration and innovation within the industry.

Unfortunately, SOEX’s downfall is part of a troubling trend. Many textile recyclers are being forced to file for bankruptcy due to a lack of market demand for recycled materials. While awareness of sustainability is increasing, the rise of ultra fast-fashion—with its rapid production cycles and inexpensive, disposable clothing—has made it difficult for recyclers to thrive. Consumers and brands continue to prioritize cheap, short-lived garments over sustainable alternatives, undermining the viability of companies like SOEX.

The insolvency of SOEX highlights the serious challenges facing the textile recycling industry. Without stronger demand for recycled materials and greater regulatory support, the industry will continue to struggle. However, as the environmental impact of fast fashion becomes harder to ignore, there is hope that change will come, and sustainable practices will gain the traction they urgently need.