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Project

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Journey towards the circular economy: implementing the UPMADE digital solution for textile circularity

The aim of this project is to enhance and expand the UPMADE business model. UPMADE offers a comprehensive approach to designing and producing new circular textile products from textile waste and leftovers through upcycling. p

Active project

2024–2028

The project combines design, data-driven production management and environmental impact assessment by creating an innovative information platform, developing an auditing and certification system, and supporting collaboration between brands and manufacturers.

The broader goal of the project is to strengthen collaboration between the research and business sectors, promote innovation, and provide practical solutions that help the textile industry become more environmentally friendly, transparent, and resource-efficient, while also meeting the European Union’s new regulatory requirements, including expectations for digital product passports. Additionally, the project contributes to the growth of Estonia’s research and development capabilities and the international adoption of the UPMADE system.

Project aim

  • Develop the UPMADE information platform, which allows brands that order textile product manufacturing services from production companies to access the necessary data for designing new products and making production decisions based on upcycling principles.
  • Develop a feature that calculates the environmental impact of products designed and produced using upcycling principles, based on production data collected through the information platform.
  • Enhance the auditing system and training concept developed within the UPMADE business model.
  • Implement and promote the UPMADE system and evaluate its functionality and impact.

SEI Tallinn is responsible for assessing the environmental impact, developing data models, and contributing to the creation of audit criteria and systems. The team also supports the development of the training concept and gathers user feedback to improve the digital solution.

Project partners

Funding

The project is funded by the Estonian Research Council under the Thematic Research and Development Programs (TemTA), with support from the European Union Cohesion and Internal Security Policy Funds.

 

SEI team

Ingrid Varov

Expert (Green and Circular Economic Transformations Unit)

SEI Tallinn

Harri Moora

Head of Unit, Senior Expert (Green and Circular Economic Transformations Unit)

SEI Tallinn