Boost in Workwear Collection Through Partnership Between ERP Netherlands and Green Gear Alliance

From 1 January 2027, GGA participants will be able to join ERP Netherlands individually to fulfil their Dutch EPR Textiles obligations. This partnership benefits workwear producers by combining two complementary areas of expertise. ERP Netherlands is a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) that supports producers and importers in complying with EPR Textiles requirements. GGA contributes its specialized knowledge, participant network, and infrastructure within the workwear value chain. Together, the organizations directly connect EPR compliance with the practical collection and processing chain for used workwear.

 

Building a Circular Workwear Chain Through Collaboration

Workwear is used intensively and presents specific challenges when it comes to collection, reuse, and recycling. Creating a circular workwear chain therefore requires close collaboration between producers, users, collectors, sorters, and recyclers. ERP Netherlands and GGA now bring these parties together in a structured way.

The joint ambition is to collect as much used workwear as possible, further optimize collection systems, and process larger volumes collectively. By doing so, both organizations aim to stimulate reuse and high-quality recycling while accelerating the development of textile-to-textile recycling.

A next step is to make recycled textile fibres from these streams available to producers, enabling them to incorporate these materials into new products. The more producers join the network, the larger the shared textile streams become, creating greater opportunities to further develop circular processing solutions.

 

Organising EPR Textiles Compliance in a Practical Way for Workwear

Producers and importers that fall under the Dutch EPR Textiles legislation are responsible for the textiles they place on the Dutch market. ERP Netherlands supports participating producers with the practical implementation of these obligations, including registration, reporting, support for textile collection, sorting, preparation for reuse and recycling, and reporting on achieved results. Through the partnership with GGA, these services are linked directly to a practical return logistics system for workwear.

 

Tjaco Twigt, Managing Director of ERP Netherlands:

"Workwear producers face the same EPR obligations as other textile producers, while their products and value chains are highly specific. That is why we are joining forces with Green Gear Alliance. We want to offer producers a place where they can effectively manage their EPR obligations and become part of a network that actively works towards increased collection, reuse, and high-quality recycling of workwear."

 

Anne Line Jacobs, Manager Green Gear Alliance

"Our ambition is to make workwear, safety footwear, and personal protective equipment circular. To achieve this, we bring together organizations that manufacture, sell, wear, collect, and process workwear. The partnership with ERP Netherlands enables us to truly connect our practical return logistics system to producer responsibility for textiles. With more producers joining the network, we can organize larger volumes and take new steps in reuse and textile-to-textile recycling."

 

Hugo Vedder, Product Specialist at Fristads (Producer of Workwear) & Board member of GGA

"This partnership is an important milestone for the workwear industry. Producers and partners have been actively investing in collection and recycling, going beyond what was required. Seeing those efforts now embedded in this collaboration is a big step forward for advancing circularity for PPE.”

 

Producers and Importers Can Join Now

ERP Netherlands and Green Gear Alliance will continue to expand the network in the coming years. Producers and importers are required to join both GGA as a participant and ERP Netherlands. This ensures that their EPR Textiles obligations are managed through ERP Netherlands while they benefit from GGA’s practical return logistics network.

 

Active in Workwear and Curious About What this Means for Your Organization?

Contact ERP Netherlands (Learn more about ERP's workwear programme) or Green Gear Alliance (Learn more about the partnership) for more information about participation and opportunities within the joint network.

Interested companies can schedule a personal consultation with ERP Netherlands and receive a proposal. Both organizations will be present at Circular Textile Days 2026 in Tilburg on 30 September and 1 October, where visitors can also meet the teams and discuss opportunities in person.

* https://erp-recycling.org/nl-nl/inzameling-workwear/

** https://www.greengearalliance.eu/samenwerking-met-ERP

 

About ERP Netherlands

European Recycling Platform Netherlands (ERP Netherlands) is a Producer Responsibility Organisation that supports producers and importers in fulfilling their obligations under the Dutch EPR Textiles legislation. ERP Netherlands assists participants with registration, reporting, collection, preparation for reuse and recycling, and reporting on achieved results.

 

About Green Gear Alliance

Green Gear Alliance is an industry initiative focused on the collection and processing of workwear and other professional protective products. The organization operates a specialized network within the workwear value chain.

 

Editors' Note

For more information and interview requests:

European Recycling Platform Netherlands

Penille Filemon National Key Account Manager +31 20 324 2424 (office) netherlands@erp-recycling.org

 

Green Gear Alliance

Anne Line Jacobs Manager, Green Gear Alliance +31 6 26 04 01 63 anne@greengearalliance.eu

It is not only about recycling processes and compliance, it is also about networking. ERP shares knowledge, insights, and news so that together we can promote the sustainable agenda.