UtilDeco: combining circular textiles and direct social impact

UtilDeco Group SRL
Hands holding multicoloured person paper cutouts linked by their hands and standing in a circle
Organisation or Company
UtilDeco Group SRL
Type of organisation or company
Social enterprise
Country
Romania
City
Miroslava, Iasi
Language for original content
Romanian
Key Area
Production,
Secondary raw materials
Project elaborated in partnership
Yes
Partners
Centro Qualità Tessile srl
OPYA
Sector
Food, water and nutrients,
Product as a Service,
Recycling,
Repair, Refurbishment, Remanufacture, Repurpose,
Social Enterprise,
Social impact,
Textiles, apparel and leather
Scope
National,
EU
Submitted by
UtilDeco Group SRL
Ongoing
Yes
Type of funding
Private,
EU program
Description

UtilDeco Group SRL was founded in 2008 as part of ADV Romania Group. It aimed to create decent jobs for people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups and has become Romania’s flagship work-integration social enterprise.

It is built around a state-of-the-art textile facility that designs, cuts, embroiders and sews certified workwear, uniforms and PPE for companies and public authorities nationwide. More than half of the tailors, pattern technicians and logistics staff are people with disabilities, young adults leaving institutional care or individuals from socially disadvantaged backgrounds. The company diversified by adding a specialty coffee roastery delivering across the country.

In 2023-2024, UtilDeco linked the two lines in a circular-economy pilot scheme: fabric off-cuts from uniform production and empty jute coffee sacks were upcycled into OPYA Fashion, a limited-edition collection of jackets, totes and accessories sold online.

The enterprise is now scaling circularity through two major projects:

  • an EU-funded research initiative (2025-2027) will embed digital product passports in every garment, giving each coverall a QR tag that stores fibre composition, care-and-repair records and end-of-life recycling guidance.
  • TexCARE, launched in 2025 and due for completion in 2027, will let clients hire workwear that is industrial-washed, repaired and recycled into new fibres when garments reach end-of-life.

By merging inclusive employment, responsible sourcing and closed-loop design, UtilDeco demonstrates that competitive manufacturing can drive both social equity and resource efficiency, inspiring businesses and policies.

Main activity field
Manufacturing
Identified challenge (s)
Lack of circular infrastructure
Main results
  • UtilDeco Group SRL produces over 10 000 protective garments each year, from design to finished product, with more than 50% of the employees coming from disadvantaged groups.
  • The business diversified with a specialty coffee roastery and the OPYA Fashion collection – ten types of products made from recycled materials and sold online.
  • It is developing a research project for digital product passports, moving from TRL 6 to TRL 9 in partnership with an Italian company.
  • UtilDeco also launched TexCARE, a circular service for workwear rental, washing, repair and recycling, having completed the building design and submitted the construction permit documentation.