Discarded army and police uniforms are being transformed into construction materials under a government-backed recycling trial in the Netherlands.
The initiative aims to turn old textiles into wall and facade panels for public buildings instead of sending the material for incineration.
According to the Dutch defence ministry, the army and police generate around 600 tonnes of discarded clothing every year. Much of this often high-quality fibre ends up being burnt.
Now, the ministry has joined forces with the government buildings agency RVB to recycle 120 tonnes of old uniforms in a one-year pilot.
Top quality assured
Under the scheme, recycled textiles will replace conventional plasterboard products in selected government buildings. The project is a first for the Netherlands and forms part of wider efforts to reduce raw material use and carbon emissions in the construction sector.
Koert Jan Eefting, head of armed forces uniforms, says the military wants to take greater responsibility for the full lifecycle of its materials. ‘Uniforms that are no longer used in operations will now get a new destination as building material,’ he says. ‘That is a more sustainable use of our resources.’
Several industrial partners including Agricon have tested the recycled materials over the past year. Dutch certification specialist KIWA has confirmed the quality of the products.
If the pilot succeeds, the programme could expand into a three-year project that also allows commercial companies to participate.
Recycling pressure grows
The trial arrives as the Netherlands tightens circular economy targets and textile waste rules. Extended producer responsibility regulations already require companies to manage and finance textile waste streams. National targets aim for 50% circularity by 2030 and 75% before 2050.
The country’s wider textile strategy for 2025-2030 focuses heavily on reuse, recycling and sustainable procurement.
Meanwhile, textile waste volumes continue to rise. More than half of discarded clothing and bedding in the Netherlands ends up in household residual waste and is incinerated.
Dutch consumers purchase an average of 46 new clothing items, shoes and accessories every year. That is roughly 19 kg of textiles per person.
The ministry believes its recycling project could eventually serve as a broader model for sustainable public procurement across Europe.
For recyclers and manufacturers, the initiative also highlights growing interest in textile-to-construction applications as governments search for alternatives to virgin building materials.
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