European Commission logo
Horizon Europe Cluster 6 — Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources & Environment

Horizon Circular Textiles: City Collection & Repair

Funds two €5M consortia building city and regional systems that collect, sort and repair textiles instead of sending them to landfill.

OpenEuropean CommissionEU

Most used clothing never gets reused or repaired — it gets thrown out, because most cities don't have a real system to catch it. This topic funds building that system for real, at the scale of an actual city or region, not testing it on paper. A winning project sets up or fixes how a city collects used textiles, sorts them so the pieces worth reusing or repairing don't get lost in general waste, a

Building and running a real, working system — not a pilot study — that collects used textiles at city or regional scale, sorts them so reusable and repairable items don't get lost in the general waste stream, and gets them back into use through public collection points, retailer take-back schemes, and local repair. Proposals combine that physical infrastructure with the digital layer behind it — data on where textiles actually go, traceability across the supply chain, and tools that support a digital product passport — and have to actively involve citizens, local repair and upcycling businesses, and social enterprises in the design. The consortium has to include at least 9 different regional or local authorities: at least 3 running a real demonstration, and at least 6 more piloting the same approach elsewhere, so the solution is proven to replicate, not just work once.

CycleiHow often this grant runs — e.g. annually, on a rolling basis, or a one-off call.Annual
Next deadlineiThe next date applications are due. Rolling means you can apply any time.17 Sept 2026
Decision timeiTypical time from the deadline to the funder's decision.22 weeks
Project durationiHow long the funded work is expected to run.
Award typeiThe form of funding — grant, equity, loan, tax credit, etc.Grant
Match fundingiThe share of project costs you must cover yourself. 0% = fully funded.30%
Funding pooliThe total budget available across all awards in this round.€10M

Sign up free to see the funding breakdown

Sign up free to see the industries in scope

Sign up free to see the full eligibility

Sign up free to see how to apply

Sign up free to see what you submit

Sign up free to see how they score you

Sign up free to see the timeline

Sign up free to see where teams trip up

Last verified: 25 Aug 2026Funder reference: HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-04Source: ec.europa.eu