IAW Scientific
I AM WORLD operates in a circular dynamic that directly activates three fundamental pillars of society.
Measure… measure the impact of our actions. Does it make sense?
We are, after all, an environmental company, and caring for textiles is our greatest contribution. In the meantime, we invite the community to join us. We are all circularity in action! Each of our structures has a high impact on the amount of textiles that, by being transformed into SOMA (the interior of shredded fabrics), prevents them from being incinerated or sent to landfills, increasing the volume of textiles in landfills and oceans, which has serious consequences for the increase in our ecological footprint. We are acting together to ReVerter.
Our pieces, our eco-sofas, represent the extra care taken by our members (companies and ordinary people) who, like us, feel “something” when they feel the need to throw clothes in the regular trash, an attitude that does not make them feel good. And by adhering to the ReVersão Concept, they join I AM WORLD, donating textiles to be transformed into SOMA, into new decoration—Eco Decoration.
We are the disposal option that gives continuity to “dead clothes” or textiles that are unsuitable for consumption. With this, we have already prevented more than 1 ton in Madeira from being incinerated, sent to landfill, or even to second-hand clothing markets on the African coast (such as Ghana).
If you have clothes to throw away, contact us.
If you are furnishing your home, consult us.
We support upcycling and recycling initiatives. The longer clothes stay on the ground, the better. But one day… they get really old… and they don’t need to go to waste. This is where I AM WORLD – The ReVersion Concept comes in.
What impact are we making as members of ReVersão?
That is the question that drives our daily commitment.
The larger the structure, the greater the impact!
Scientific Studies on the Environmental Impact of Textiles, by Carlos Fulgêncio and others
Estimates indicate that 92 million tons of textile waste are produced annually, with the vast majority ending up in landfills or being incinerated. Fast fashion has accelerated this problem by promoting rapid consumption and disposal of low-cost clothing items.
(Chioma 2023)
Textiles deposited in landfills, especially synthetic materials, take centuries to decompose and release greenhouse gases such as methane during degradation. The cumulative effect of these processes not only exacerbates damage to local ecosystems (through soil and water contamination), but also contributes to global climate change.
(Okafor, 2023)
Estimates indicate that 92 million tons of textile waste are produced annually, with the vast majority ending up in landfills or being incinerated. Fast fashion has accelerated this problem by promoting rapid consumption and disposal of low-cost clothing items.
(Chioma 2023)
… on average, EU residents use almost 2 kilograms of textiles and throw away around 11 kilograms every year. Used clothing can be exported outside the EU, but most of it (87%) is incinerated or sent to landfills.
…textile waste is often sent from rich economies to countries in the “global south,” transferring their set of contaminants abroad.
Consequences of textile waste contamination on land… the way people dispose of unwanted clothing has changed… … 1% of used clothing is recycled into new clothing, as technologies that would allow clothing to be recycled into virgin fibers are only now beginning to emerge.
(European Parliament 2024)
The impact is exacerbated by the fact that many discarded textiles are produced with synthetic materials and chemicals that resist decomposition and therefore pose long-term contamination risks to the earth.
(Chioma 2023 ZENGREEN)
The burning of textile waste, especially that made from synthetic fibers, can release a cocktail of toxic substances, including dioxins, particles, and other volatile organic compounds. These emissions contribute to air pollution and climate change by increasing greenhouse gas levels.
(Caterbow,2020) (Chioma, 2023)
25% of textile waste is recycled or reused worldwide, …75% ends up in landfills
(Kim C Lee, 2025) (Chand, Chand C Raula, 2023) (Venugopal, Patil, C Naidu, 2025,)
Downstream, the environmental impact of textile waste is multidimensional—from its enormous production volumes and chemical leaks on land to widespread contamination of the oceans by microplastics. Incineration, while reducing waste volume, exacerbates the problem by releasing harmful emissions, and current recycling efforts capture only a fraction of the waste. It is crucial to move forward with sustainable practices in production, consumption, and disposal, and emerging research points to integrated circular economy strategies that require systemic changes in industry, policy, and consumer behavior.
In the EU, the proposed Waste Framework Directive (due to be adopted in 2025, with a transposition period of 20 months) adds new levels of responsibility to textile waste management. Each Member State will have to set up its own Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme under which textile manufacturers will contribute to the management of used textiles and textile waste. This provision will promote investment in selective collection, sorting, reuse, and recycling capacities, aiming at a circular economy for textiles, while opening up business opportunities in this cluster. It is relevant for countries such as Portugal, where landfills are running out of space. The amended directive will also combat the illegal export of textile waste. By clearly defining what constitutes “waste” and what constitutes a “reusable” textile, sorting must be carried out before used textiles are sent abroad. This measure ensures that textile waste is only exported when it can be managed in an environmentally sustainable manner.
(Council of the European Union,2025)