Earlier this year, Säntis Textiles and Tell-Tex AG announced the launch of Switzerland’s first-ever cotton recycling facility — and we couldn’t be more thrilled.
This isn't just a milestone for Swiss textile circularity. It's a clear signal: as climate change and geopolitical instability continue to disrupt the global supply of virgin materials, locking essential resources like cotton into localized, closed-loop systems is no longer just a trend — it’s a matter of national interest.

Making the loop work & putting iceep to work

To succeed, the loop must be designed for participation — every Swiss citizen should have equal access to the takeback programs.

Designed for Participation

That’s where iceep steps in. Our platform ensures that takeback programs of participating brands are:

• Accessible to all customers across the Swiss territory.
• Just as convenient as purchasing something new from an online shop.

By making circularity as simple and seamless as shopping, we’re reducing barriers and encouraging participation on a national scale.

Engineered for PreSorting

True circularity depends on quality input. Iceep empowers brands to:

• Keep high-quality cotton streams separate from bulk, mixed-textile collections.
• Define sorting criteria — such as color or product type — to streamline downstream sorting and disassembly.

The result? Improved feedstock quality and significantly reduced complexity and cost throughout the recycling chain.

Better Together: Uniting Small Brands for Big Impact

Switzerland is home to some of the most sustainable, ethical, and design-forward brands in the world — including CARPASUS, NIKIN AG, WE ARE ZRCL, Muntagnard, Jungle Folk, Schlossberg Switzerland AG, and Zimmerli of Switzerland, just to name a few.
These brands rely on premium cotton for their collections, making their garments ideal post-consumer feedstock. But recycling is a numbers game — balancing quality with quantity. Individually, small brands often lack the scale needed to contribute meaningfully to large-scale recycling efforts.

Yet here’s the truth: small brands make up over 80% of the market. We simply cannot achieve a functioning circular economy if we leave them behind.

Consolidating Feedstocks Through iceep

At iceep, we believe our role is to help small brands collaborate, not compete. Our digital infrastructure provides transparency into material flows and allows us to:

• Group brands with similar material types.
• Consolidate their feedstocks.
• Amplify their collective impact in the loop.

Looking Ahead: Together Is Better

Exciting times lie ahead for the Swiss textile industry. As we move toward a more circular and resilient future, we are reminded of a uniquely Swiss truth — in a country of 24 cantons and four national languages, we know better than most that real progress happens when we work together.

Together is better.

We care.
iceep.