LUI - Luxembourg Upcycling Initiative

LUI – Luxembourg Upcycling Initiative is a project run by HUT – Hëllef Um Terrain with the support of the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity. The aim of the project is to create new objects for everyday use in Luxembourg from professional uniforms that are no longer in use, thereby reducing CO2 emissions by integrating materials that are still usable into the circular economy.

Reuse of uniforms

The idea of repurposing uniforms stems from the expertise and networks acquired through the Lët'z Refashion project. More than just a shop, Lët'z Refashion is a comprehensive strategy covering the entire textile value chain, from production to consumption and textile waste.  

By fighting climate change at the national level and promoting sustainable consumption in the textile sector, HUT – Hëllef Um Terrain not only works to promote social inclusion in Luxembourg, but also helps to limit CO2 emissions in order to reduce the impact of our consumption patterns at the national level. A study commissioned by Lët'z Refashion and conducted by LIST shows that transforming (upcycling) a uniform reduces its environmental impact by 87% on average, with a significant reduction in CO2 emissions and water use. 

LUI aims to promote the reuse of uniforms, encouraging eco-responsibility and sustainability in the textile sector in Luxembourg.
The project therefore encompasses the following points:

1. collecting uniforms destined for disposal and destruction (from the army, police, fire brigade, Post Luxembourg, and even private companies) in order to give them a second life by using them as raw material for other textile products;
2. working on prototypes that allow this raw material to be reused as much as possible and minimise waste production.

Global and national context 

Every year, the textile industry (clothing and footwear) worldwide emits 4 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent. This is more than the combined impact of international flights and maritime traffic. 

By 2050, the textile sector could account for as much as 26% of global GHG emissions if current consumption trends continue. 

In Luxembourg, according to a LIST study on decarbonisation, clothing purchases represent 621 kg of CO2 equivalent per year per person, making it the category of consumer goods that generates the most CO2 equivalent, far ahead of furniture (332 kg), hygiene products (322 kg) and electronics and technology (259 kg). 

LUI contributes to priority 3 of the 3rd National Plan for Sustainable Development (PNDD), ‘promoting sustainable consumption and production’, and to the achievement of Agenda 2030, in particular the achievement of goal 12: ‘ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns’.

Considering the significant impact of textile production and distribution, particularly on the climate, the initiative also represents an important climate action and thus contributes to priority 8 of the PNDD, ‘Protecting the climate, adapting to climate change and ensuring sustainable energy,’ and by extension to goal 13, ‘take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts’ by 2030.