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For the industry, this is more than just an environmental initiative, writes BOF. Market participants believe that large orders from leading sports brands can accelerate the creation of new production chains, attract investment in recycling facilities, and generate sustainable demand for recycled materials.
The textile industry remains one of the most resource-intensive sectors of the global economy, while the recycling of clothing and fabrics has so far developed at a relatively slow pace. For a long time, one of the main obstacles has been the lack of large-scale demand from major customers. Therefore, the shift by global sports brands toward materials made from textile waste is seen as an important signal for the entire market.
Nike, Puma, and Adidas are testing new supply chains
The largest sportswear manufacturers are using the World Cup as a platform to showcase new recycling technologies. Nike presented the most ambitious project. Aero-Fit, the material used to make the uniforms for 12 national teams—including Brazil, England, and France—is made entirely from recycled textile waste.
Puma is developing a similar approach as part of its Re. program. According to the company, at least 95% of the polyester in the uniforms for 11 national teams—including Portugal, Morocco, and Ghana—comes from old clothing, unsold products, manufacturing rejects, and textile scraps.
Adidas, which outfits 14 national teams, including Argentina, Spain, and Mexico, does not disclose the percentage of recycled textiles in its products. However, the company has already integrated polyester from textile waste into its Climacool fabric and plans to increase the share of such raw materials in its product line to 10% by 2030.
From Experiments to Industrial Scale
For many years, the development of textile recycling has been held back by a market paradox. Brands demanded proof that new materials could meet high performance requirements, while recyclers were reluctant to invest in expanding production without long-term contracts and guaranteed demand.
Sportswear is traditionally considered one of the most challenging categories for introducing new materials. Fabrics must simultaneously be lightweight, breathable, durable, and able to withstand intense physical stress. Therefore, the use of recycled textiles in the uniforms of leading national soccer teams is seen as an indicator of the technology’s maturity and the industry’s readiness to scale up.
According to experts, the significance of the project extends far beyond the volume of recycled polyester used for the tournament itself. If the initiatives of major sports brands prove successful, the 2026 World Cup could become for the textile recycling industry what the electric vehicle market has become for battery manufacturers—a turning point marking the transition from isolated experiments to industrial-scale production.
