It takes millions of tons of resources to produce millions of tons of textile clothing. Every day. And only 1% is recycled. This statement alone is enough to understand the importance of the end-of-life of the jackets, sweatshirts, and suits we use for our beloved outdoor sports. It’s not just a matter of sustainability, but first and foremost of shared responsibility. Starting from the brands that produce technical clothing, to those who wear these garments.
Everyone must do their part. And this is the strong message that will be launched during the European Outdoor Week (EOW) in Riva del Garda, from May 14 to 19, thanks to Rematrix, Reju and Patagonia. 
“The evolution of the sector depends on the ability to organize reliable, traceable, and scalable post-consumer flows. Our role is to connect brands, recovery operators, and the recycling industry, turning a regulatory obligation into an industrial opportunity,” says Enrico Soffiati, CEO of Rematrix.
The presence of Rematrix, Reju, and Patagonia will go beyond just a message, becoming a real call to action. The idea is simple and requires everyone’s participation: everyone can bring their damaged outdoor garments. Patagonia will repair them for free at the Worn Wear mobile tailor, if possible. Otherwise, they can be deposited in special containers and, after the processing, Rematrix will collect them and Reju will regenerate them, turning them into secondary raw material for new garments.
“It’s time to make textile circularity concrete, building infrastructures capable of bringing post-consumer materials back to the center of the value chain. The collaboration with Rematrix shows that it is already possible to generate high-quality secondary raw materials and reduce dependence on virgin resources,” comments Gianluca Pandolfo, Head of Business EMEA at Reju. 
This process can be repeated indefinitely, saving millions of tons of resources. That’s why even a small gesture can be revolutionary. Two containers will be placed inside ORBDAYS & OUTDOOR trade show, from May 17 to 19, while a third will be at the village of the Activation Days at the Giardini di Porta Orientale in Riva del Garda, on May 16 and 17.
“The problem is the solution.” This is the inscription on the containers for collecting unused clothing. Because Rematrix, a consortium from Vicenza that supports companies in the proactive management of end-of-life textile waste, and Reju, a material regeneration company with an international team of experts, share a clear goal: to build a system where textile waste does not exist.
The first step is the polyester produced by Reju in the Regeneration Hub Zero in Frankfurt: made 100% from garments destined for incinerators or landfills, it is completely traceable and allows to reduce CO₂ emissions by 50% compared to traditional production.
The presence of Rematrix and Reju is a call to action for brands as well: recycled polyester exists, is of high quality, and is ready to be used. It is not just a response to EPR regulations, but a concrete lever to accelerate the transition towards a truly circular model.
