Suzanne Lazaroo
3 October 2024: University of Canberra-linked start-up RediRobots was announced today as a grant recipient of Country Road’s Climate Fund, receiving a $30,000 boost for its quest to improve sustainable practices in the textile recycling industry.
Partnering with the University and Textile Recyclers Australia, RediRobots Director Dr David Hinwood is working to address the environmental nightmare caused by over 200,000 tonnes of clothing ending up Australian landfill every year (source: Seamless).
“Much of the clothing that is now just discarded could easily be recycled – but the labour-intensive sorting process for discarded clothes is a major barrier,” Dr Hinwood said.
“Clothing must be sorted by colour, type and material. And hygiene is another major factor that must be taken into account when it comes to manual sorting.”
His answer? Simplifying and automating the sorting process via an advanced, dual-armed robotic system. This innovative system was developed as part of his PhD research at the University’s Faculty of Science and Technology, where Dr Hinwood is also a sessional academic.
The robotic system will be deployed at Textile Recyclers Australia premises for testing, proving its mettle in an existing recycling facility.
Now in its second year, Country Road’s Climate Fund seeks to boost projects that drive positive climate solutions within the fashion industry – these projects align with four pillars: biodiversity, First Nations-led projects, circularity and innovation.
RediRobots received the grant under two pillars: circularity and innovation.
As a member of the Climate Fund’s assessment committee, Country Road’s Brand Sustainability Manager Aleasha McCallion said that all four of this year’s grant recipients “… clearly reflect exceptional innovation and dedication to sustainable and circular solutions in Australia which connect our close relationship with fibre, textiles and fashion, back to the health and wellbeing of people and planet”.
Dr Hinwood is looking forward to scaling up this new technology and maximising the positive impact it could have on the fashion industry – and the environment.
“By integrating our technology into existing recycling facilities, we aim to set a new standard in garment end-of-life processing, transforming the face of the Australian fashion industry as it moves towards more sustainable practices,” he said.
“Ultimately, we seek to make textile recycling more efficient, turning waste into resources, reducing what goes into landfill and cutting down on carbon dioxide emissions.”
Photos supplied by Country Road.
