A joint pilot project conducted by Avery Dennison and TEXAID
has demonstrated that RFID technology can significantly
improve textile sorting efficiency, achieving up to three times
faster processing speeds than traditional manual methods while
maintaining identification accuracy of up to 99.9%.
The project explored how RFID-enabled automation could
support the growing need for faster and more scalable textile
sorting solutions. The findings come at a time when the European
textile industry is preparing for stricter waste management
regulations and new requirements for textile traceability.
TEXAID, which processes approximately 80,000 tonnes of textiles
each year across more than 300 sorting categories, partnered
with Avery Dennison to evaluate whether RFID technology could
help manage the increasing volume of post-consumer textiles
expected under new European Union regulations.
Testing was carried out at the Valvan Sorting Lab in Menen using
Valvan’s Fibersort system. The facility’s existing equipment was
upgraded with additional scanning hardware and software to
support RFID-based sorting under realistic operating conditions.
According to the project results, the RFID-enabled system
processed garments at a rate of one item per second, equivalent
to 60 garments per minute.