World Cities Day: We Dream of Circular Cities with Respetto Technology

On October 31, the world celebrates World Cities Day, established by the United Nations to promote sustainable urban development.
It’s not just a date on the calendar — it’s an invitation to face the future we are building every day in our cities.

Cities: Where Our Future Is Decided

Today, more than 55% of the world’s population lives in urban areas, and estimates suggest that by 2050 this figure will rise to almost 70%.
Cities occupy less than 2% of the Earth’s land, yet they generate over 70% of CO₂ emissions and 80% of global GDP.
These numbers speak for themselves: the planet’s destiny is being decided in cities — and so is the challenge of sustainability.

The Hidden Mountain of Textile Waste

Among the many waste streams running through our cities, one is silently growing: textile waste.
In 2024, around 120 million tons of textile waste were produced globally — the equivalent of more than 200 Olympic stadiums filled with discarded clothing.
Each European citizen consumes an average of 26 kg of textiles per year and throws away about 11 kg. Of this, 80% still ends up in landfills or incinerators, while less than 1% is transformed into new fibers.
The generation of textile waste continues to rise, fueled by fast fashion and a system that still struggles to “close the loop.”

This isn’t just an aesthetic or logistical issue. Textile waste has a deep environmental and cultural impact: every garment sent to landfill represents wasted material and energy.
To picture the scale of this waste, consider the Atacama Desert in Chile, where over 60,000 tons of used clothing have formed a landfill visible from space.

Why Textile Recycling Is So Difficult

Many textile regeneration technologies focus on fiber-to-fiber recycling (Textile to Textile). However, they can’t efficiently handle blended fibers, which are estimated to make up around 80% of textiles produced globally — and these blends are the norm in modern clothing.
This is where technology must make a difference — and where we, with Respetto, are building a concrete technological solution.

Respetto: The Innovative Technology That Turns Problems into Resources

Respetto is a proprietary technology developed by Regenesi to regenerate mixed textile waste, with no need for manual sorting.
It’s a system that can be integrated into the urban fabric, transforming waste into resources — and urban waste into new circular raw materials.

Imagine a city that doesn’t pile up mountains of clothing, but instead regenerates its waste locally.
A city where waste flows become value flows.
An urban plant based on Respetto is not just a technical solution — it’s a cultural symbol that every scrap can become a resource.
It’s visible proof that the ecological transition can start right at home, without waiting for distant or futuristic decisions.

Circular Cities: From Waste to Design Accessories — Today, Not Tomorrow

We dream of cities where every discarded garment becomes secondary raw material, ready to re-enter the production cycle.
With the technology we’ve developed, it’s already possible to create cities that produce new materials for local use — such as urban furniture, public services, and more — starting from textile waste.

This is an achievable industrial and social horizon: one that can linked to transport and disposal, create new local supply chains for circular materials, and foster a new culture of regeneration among citizens.

The UN defines sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
If by 2050, 70% of people will live in cities, waste management — including textiles — will become a key indicator of urban quality.
It’s not just about reducing environmental impact, but about restoring value and beauty to what we currently call “waste.”