CircSim – Interactive cycle simulator

CircSim illustrates how the textile circular economy works and what concrete added value it offers for the environment, society, and the economy. The project’s goal is to provide low-threshold access to well-founded, scientifically reliable data— ly presented for policymakers, business, academia, schools, and civil society.

At the heart of the project is an interactive circular economy simulator that demonstrates how different decisions throughout the entire life cycle of textiles interact. Users can explore and compare various decision paths—for example, from political, economic, scientific, or societal perspectives.

Key circular economy strategies such as Reduce, Reuse, Repair and Recycle are addressed in the circular economy simulator. Using visual models, CircSim makes transparent how these strategies impact costs, material flows, energy and water consumption, and the carbon footprint. The underlying models provide quantifiable data that enables evidence-based analysis and evaluation.

In doing so, CircSim takes a holistic view of textile cycles: in addition to production and recycling, usage decisions are also systematically incorporated—such as care practices, the lifespan of clothing, or alternative business models like rental and secondhand.

The CircSim project was initiated by the DITF and is one of 10 projects in the DATIpilot Innovation Community Circular Textiles, funded by the BMFTR.