The NIR perspective
on material sorting
Recycling intelligence, product updates, and industry analysis from the Matoha team.
What Is NIR Spectroscopy and Why Recyclers Are Adopting It
A plain-language explanation of how near-infrared spectroscopy identifies material composition, and why it's becoming standard equipment in sorting and recycling operations.
The EU Digital Product Passport: What Textile Businesses Need to Prepare For
The DPP isn't just a label, it's a material data requirement. We break down what it means for brands, recyclers, and anyone in the textile chain who touches fibre composition data.
The True Cost of a Mis-Sorted Garment
A wrong-bin decision looks like a small error. Across thousands of garments per week, it adds up. We work through the numbers, and what it takes to close the gap.
Silk in a Mixed Textile Stream: Why Getting It Wrong Is Expensive
Silk is one of the most valuable fibres in a mixed stream, and one of the hardest to identify by eye. The gap between those two facts is where significant value gets lost.
From Bale to Data: Building a Digital Record for Every Scan
A scan takes one second. The data record it creates can last indefinitely. Why the operations building scan-level records today are building tomorrow's compliance infrastructure.
What Textile Sorters Actually Say After 6 Months With NIR
The pilot numbers are one thing. What really changes in workflow, buyer relationships, and how operators approach the sorting decision, that's where the real story is.
Black Plastic and the Recycling Identification Problem, How NIR Helps
Black plastic has frustrated recyclers for years. Carbon black absorbs the wavelengths traditional sorting uses. Near-infrared approaches the problem from a different angle entirely.
EPR for Textiles: What UK Recyclers Need to Know Before 2027
Extended Producer Responsibility for textiles is moving from consultation to policy. The practical implications for sorting operations, charities, and recyclers, and what to do now.
Carpet Recycling in Social Housing: The Void Works Opportunity
Thousands of tonnes of carpet are stripped during void works every year. Most goes to landfill, not because it can't be recycled, but because no one has time to identify what it's made of.
Lieve Vanrusselt