New report highlights how repair, reuse, recycling and garment ownership are helping extend textile lifecycles across Europe's managed workwear sector

Managed workwear service model demonstrates circular approach to textile lifecycle

According to "Managed workwear services—a circular textile economy ahead of the game," a new 14-page report from Textiles Intelligence, managed workwear service providers are demonstrating how circularity can be integrated into commercial operations by extending the lifespan of garments through repair, laundering, reuse and recycling.

Across Europe, several companies have shifted from a traditional manufacturing model to managed workwear services. Instead of supplying garments alone, these businesses retain ownership throughout the garment's working life and manage activities including tracking, laundering, repairs, replacement and eventual recycling.

The report states that this approach has created one of the textile industry's more established examples of a circular business model.

Unlike conventional apparel manufacturers, managed workwear service providers generate value by extending the useful life of garments. As a result, garments are designed to withstand hundreds of industrial laundering cycles, while maintaining comfort, meeting safety compliance requirements and allowing for easier repair.

The report also notes that managed workwear providers have developed advanced logistics systems. Technologies including radio frequency identification (RFID), automated sorting systems and digital inventory management enable garments to be tracked throughout their service life, supporting longer garment use, reducing operating costs and lowering environmental impact.

By retaining ownership of garments from production through end-of-life recovery, these companies have established a business model focused on traceability, maintenance and recycling. According to the report, this model is one that much of the wider apparel industry is only beginning to develop.

The report identifies several European companies actively operating within this model, including Alsico, CWS Workwear, Elis, Fristads, Lindström, Mascot and Mewa.

According to Textiles Intelligence, managed workwear services provide an example of how circularity can be implemented on a commercial scale. While the model may not be directly applicable across every segment of the apparel industry, the report states that retaining ownership of garments creates commercial incentives to improve durability, facilitate repairs and recover valuable materials at the end of a product's lifecycle.