At a Glance
Location: Chile
Impact Areas: Labor Inclusion, Environment, Sustainable Income
People Supported:
Women, Former Inmates
Joined NESsT Portfolio:
2021
Overview
Ecocitex is a social enterprise that sells 100% recycled textile products through more than 250 women-led businesses across Chile. The social enterprise oversees an extensive production chain that involves anyone with access to clothing in the circular economy. Textile waste is responsible for 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions in addition to releasing half a million tons of microfibres into the ocean every year (European Parliament, 2021). Ecocitex’s recycling process extends textile lifetimes to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.
In addition to providing unique products for these micro and small distributors to sell, Ecocitex trains and employs formerly incarcerated women in its production facility, ensuring access to technical roles that have been historically reserved for men. Furthermore, it is committed to the personal development of its employees by offering them wellness benefits in partnership with social workers and psychologists that can help with rehabilitation from traumatic life experiences.
Every week, Ecocitex sources and processes approximately 1 ton of donated textiles and textile waste, converting it into new materials, such as upcycled textile yarn, and transporting them directly to new clients. Its clients are distributors who are interested in upcycled materials and climate-conscious consumers shopping for new garments. Ecocitex also donates garments to vulnerable communities with limited access to clothing. During the pandemic, the enterprise donated more than 1,000 wool caps to homeless people living on the streets.
Ecocitex partnered with NESsT and IKEA Social Entrepreneurship to increase its production capacity while also sustaining the services that it provides to its employees and vulnerable people in its communities.
Results & Impact
260
women-led small businesses supported
70
new employment opportunities created by 2023
20%
of Chile’s textile waste processed by 2023
“I like working here because it makes me a more environmentally-conscious person. All the clothes here would be in the trash, and we are bringing them back to life. By providing former inmates a chance to work again to support their families, Ecocitex is not only helping the environment but also people. ”
NESsT Investment
NESsT and IKEA Social Entrepreneurship invested in Ecocitext to support the enterprise in employing more women and low-income communities to reach its ability to process 110 tons of textile waste per year.
Ecocitex is beginning to recycle materials into insulation panels, furniture, eco-stuffing, to complement the yarns and new lines of clothing it has developed. To fully realize this business expansion, NESsT and IKEA Social Entrepreneurship will help Ecocitex to train personnel in the manufacturing process, establish operating protocols, design interactive manuals for the use and maintenance of machines, and implement employee training guidelines.
As it expands its client base in the industrial market, Exocitex will have access to NESsT and IKEA expertise to ensure consistency and quality of its materials at scale, while also establishing relationships with industrial retailers, improving by-product management, and upgrading existing machinery.
