Quality paper from waste fabric
In 2023, 420 million metric tonnes (mmt) of paper were consumed worldwide. This is expected to reach 500 mmt by 2032. After mining, paper and forestry are the second major risk to loss of biodiversity. This reliance on conventional paper consumption and production processes further depletes the earth's natural resources and increases carbon emissions (Source: Suzano, AFRY).
Sweet Fabrics is committed to revolutionizing sustainability by transforming old clothes into eco-friendly paper and addressing the market need for paper consumption in the UK. The UK ranks as the 12th largest paper consumer globally (FAO, 2023), and the conversion of textile waste into paper would significantly contribute to preserving valuable natural resources and addressing the issues of textile waste ending up in landfills as well as microfiber pollution in aquatic ecosystems.
In 2023, the UK threw away 336,000 tonnes of clothing (Statista, 2023), with over 50% ending up in landfills and contributing to environmental degradation. Microfibers from synthetic fabrics also infiltrate marine ecosystems, harming aquatic life and potentially entering the human food chain.
Our innovative solution repurposes textile waste and creates a self-sustaining paper source, which minimises ecological impacts and reduces the need for virgin pulp.
We are building the UK's first fabric-to-paper recycling plant in Bradford.
