The problem is that recycling textiles is a highly complex task and technical solutions are still in their infancy.NGOs warn the real problem is over-production, and that tech innovations may just provide cover for brands to continue pumping out billions of new clothes.

But the pressure to start recycling at massive scale is happening now.”Brands need to get to high levels of recycling at super-speed, and if they don’t, the EU will be giving them massive fines,” said circular economy consultant Paul Foulkes-Arellano.AFP spoke to multiple experts to see which ideas could make a difference.Many will fail, but here is a snapshot of current contenders that illustrate the different challenges in textile recycling.

Circ: unblending clothes 

Most clothes are a blend of mater…