How do you get started with sustainable textile production in your business?

Domenic Schindler · October 15, 2026

Sustainable textile production begins with concrete, actionable steps within one’s own operations: rethinking raw material selection, analyzing energy consumption, reducing waste, and transparently documenting processes. These measures are not a matter of company size, but rather of setting priorities. The following article answers the most important questions that textile manufacturers ask themselves on their path toward greater sustainability.

What initial steps can realistically be implemented in a textile manufacturing facility?

The most realistic first step is to take an honest look at the current situation: Where does your business consume the most energy, water, and materials? Once you identify these areas for improvement, you can take targeted action without disrupting day-to-day operations. Small measures with measurable results build confidence and momentum for larger changes.

Specifically, this means the following entry points for many companies:

Conduct an energy audit: Assess machinery, lighting, and heating for potential savings
Measuring water consumption: There is often significant potential for cost savings, particularly in the finishing and dyeing processes
Tracking Scrap and Waste: If you know how much material goes unused, you can take targeted steps to address the issue
Survey the supply chain: Survey key suppliers regarding their environmental and social standards
Involving employees: Sustainability goals are only put into practice when the team understands and supports them

These steps are inexpensive, but they provide valuable data that serves as the basis for all further decisions.

What does sustainable textile production actually mean for manufacturers?

For manufacturers, sustainable textile production means assuming environmental, social, and economic responsibility throughout the entire value chain. This includes using resource-efficient materials, ensuring fair working conditions, reducing emissions and wastewater, and designing products with their end of life in mind.

Sustainability in the Textile industry is not a one-time project, but an ongoing process. Manufacturers must make decisions that may seem more expensive in the short term but, in the long term, lower costs, reduce risks, and strengthen their market position. Customers, retailers, and lawmakers are increasingly demanding transparency and proof of compliance—for example, through the EU’s supply chain due diligence requirements or the planned mandate for a digital product passport.

Specifically, there are three dimensions:

Ecology: Use less water, energy, and chemicals; reduce emissions
Social Issues: Fair wages, safe working conditions, and no child labor in the supply chain
Cost-effectiveness: Sustainable processes must be cost-effective; otherwise, they cannot be implemented in the long term

Which raw materials and materials are considered sustainable in the textile industry?

Raw materials are considered sustainable if they are grown or extracted in a way that conserves resources, are biodegradable, or come from recycled sources. These include certified organic cotton, Lyocell (Tencel), hemp, linen, and recycled fibers from post-consumer waste such as PET bottles or old textiles.

Choosing the right material depends on the specific product segment. For athletic performance apparel, recycled synthetic fibers are often a better choice than natural fibers. For home textiles or underwear, organic cotton or Lyocell stand out for their skin-friendliness and low use of chemicals.

It is important to keep the entire life cycle in mind. A raw material that is produced sustainably but ends up in a landfill after a short period of use represents only limited progress. The circular economy in the textile industry therefore considers materials and recycling together.

How does digitalization affect sustainable textile processes?

Digitalization makes sustainable textile processes measurable, controllable, and verifiable. By collecting production data in real time, companies can reduce waste, save energy in a targeted manner, and seamlessly document material flows. This is the foundation of any credible sustainability strategy.

Specific examples of use demonstrate the benefits:

Production Data Acquisition (PDA): Machines continuously provide data on consumption, downtime, and scrap. This allows for targeted optimizations rather than relying on gut feelings.
Production Planning: Smart planning reduces overproduction and inventory costs, two of the biggest drains on resources in the industry.
Traceability: Digital systems track which materials come from which sources. This is essential for certifications and legal documentation requirements.
Inspection and Quality Control: Digital Operational Data Collection helps identify errors early and minimize scrap.

In short: Without digital infrastructure, it is possible to strive for sustainability, but it is difficult to demonstrate or systematically improve it.

What certifications and standards are relevant for textile companies?

The most relevant certifications for textile companies are GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100, Bluesign, Fair Trade, and the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS). Which of these makes sense for your business depends on your product segment, your customers, and your position in the supply chain.

Environmental Standards

GOTS is the internationally recognized standard for organically produced textile fibers and covers both environmental and social criteria. OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 tests products for harmful substances and is particularly sought after in the consumer market. Bluesign focuses on production and evaluates resource efficiency, consumer protection, and workplace safety in manufacturing.

Social and Circular Economy Standards

Fair Trade and SA8000 establish minimum social standards in the supply chain. The Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) and the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) are relevant for all companies that process recycled materials or work with the circular economy in the textile industry. These certifications build trust with trading partners and facilitate access to demanding markets.

How can textile recycling be integrated into existing production processes?

Textile recycling can be integrated into existing production processes by having companies first systematically track their internal waste streams and then determine which fractions are suitable for mechanical or chemical recycling. Companies often begin by taking back production waste before incorporating post-consumer materials.

A pragmatic approach looks like this:

Mapping waste streams: What are the volumes of offcuts, rejects, and returns?
Identify recycling partners: Specialized sorting facilities and recycling companies can collect and process waste.
Setting up return logistics: Anyone who takes back products needs processes for sorting, storage, and redistribution.
Using recycled materials: Recycled fibers can be used in new products, thereby closing the loop in the textile industry.
Digitally mapping processes: In order to verify recycling rates, material flows must be thoroughly documented.

Integrating textile recycling requires some coordination efforts at the outset, but it pays off: lower disposal costs, new sources of raw materials, and a credible sustainability profile for customers and partners.

How update texware Supports Your Path to Sustainable Textile Production

Here at update texware, we’ve been helping textile companies digitize their processes for over 40 years, and this is precisely where the key to sustainable textile production lies. With our solutions, you can make your processes transparent, measurable, and controllable.

texware/ERP: The modular ERP system covers the entire textile value chain, from raw material procurement to shipping. This allows you to keep track of material flows and resource consumption at all times.
texware/MES: Our production control solution helps you reduce scrap and optimize machine uptime—two direct ways to improve sustainability in production.
texware/Monitoring: Operational data collection provides real-time data on energy consumption and production output, which form the basis for any well-founded sustainability reporting.
Textile Recycling and Circular Processes: Since 2026, we have been actively involved in projects related to textile recycling and the digitization of circular economy processes.

If you'd like to know how we can specifically support your business on its path to sustainable textile production, please contact us. Get in touch and we'll show you what's possible with the right digital tools.