Industrial wiping cloths made from recycled textiles
Sustainable purchasing
- Solution type
- Product
Relais Est’s wiping cloths are made from second-hand clothing collected in Alsace and northern Franche-Comté. Sorted and cut by hand in their workshop in Wittenheim, they get a second life while helping to reduce waste and to create local jobs, including work integration jobs.
- Sector:
- Bas-Rhin, Haut-Rhin, Vosges, Territoire de Belfort
Its features
Environmentally friendly
- Waste reduction The wiping cloths are made from used clothing and textiles collected in Alsace and Franche-Comté. Transforming them diverts these textiles from waste treatment channels and gives them a new use. This activity therefore helps reduce volumes of textile waste, with around 200 tonnes of textiles recovered each year. - Material reuse and resource savings By using existing textiles as raw material, the manufacture of these cloths avoids the use of new textile fibres. This approach helps preserve natural resources and limit the water and energy consumption usually required to produce new textile materials. - Carbon emission reduction Manufacturing takes place locally in Wittenheim (68), from textiles collected mainly in Alsace and northern Franche-Comté. This short supply chain limits the distances over which materials are transported and thus helps reduce the CO₂ emissions linked to their delivery. - Reusable cloths The cloths are washable and can be reused several times, depending on how they are used. This extends their service life and limits the use of single-use wiping products.
Community solidarity
Relais Est is a work integration enterprise that employs around 200 people, 45% of whom are on integration pathways. Recovering textiles thus creates local jobs while supporting people who are far from employment.
Life cycle of this solution
Step 1: The collector
Collects used textiles through collection points close to the workshop, limiting CO₂ emissions.
Step 2: The sorter
Sorts the collected textiles to give them a second life.
Step 3: The producer
The textiles are then turned into industrial wiping cloths.
Step 4: The distributor
Sells the cloths while raising customers’ awareness.
Step 5: The committed consumer
Chooses these industrial cloths for their environmental benefits.
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Selected members (2)
- LE RESEAU COCCIVolgelsheim
- LE RELAIS ESTWittenheim