News

At the retail outlet “Lab! veikals”, opened last year by Eco Baltia vide Ltd, a new “Vintage” textile section has been introduced. It offers clothing prepared for reuse from materials collected through textile sorting containers. This is the first full-cycle textile circular solution in Latvia, where a unified process covers collection, sorting, cleaning, and returning textiles to retail circulation.

“The development of the textile direction at ‘Lab! veikals’ is a step towards a much stronger culture of reuse in Latvia. If we can take quality clothing that residents have placed in textile sorting containers, prepare it for reuse, and return it to the market here in Latvia, we simultaneously reduce textile waste and decrease the need for imported second-hand textiles. This is particularly important, as a large share of used clothing currently entering the Latvian market is already close to waste status. Our goal is to build a system where clothing reused in circulation has been worn in Latvia, rather than being imported in large volumes from other countries,”
says Jānis Aizbalts, Chairman of the Board of Eco Baltia vide Ltd.

The solution is implemented by Eco Baltia vide Ltd in cooperation with Latvijas Zaļais punkts, ensuring the entire circular process—from collecting textiles deposited by residents in dedicated containers to returning high-quality clothing to the market through “Lab! veikals”. The new “Vintage” section is one of the key practical solutions demonstrating that a fully functional textile circular system can be developed in Latvia, where wearable clothing does not become waste but is returned to reuse.

“With the launch of the ‘Vintage’ section, we are introducing Latvia’s first full textile circular model. In this way, we not only reduce waste volumes but also create a practical system where textiles retain their value for as long as possible. At ‘Lab! veikals’, we see that customers are increasingly drawn to sustainable yet high-quality products. We hope that the new section will also strengthen public engagement in textile sorting, as it clearly shows how donated textiles return to circulation and become fully-fledged products for reuse. This is also one of the next steps in the development of ‘Lab! veikals’, gradually shaping it into a store for a wide range of consumer goods, where textiles and electronics mark just the beginning,”
notes Diāna Baranovska, Head of the Materials Circulation Department at “Lab!”.

The clothing available in the “Vintage” section is selected from textiles collected via containers placed by Eco Baltia vide Ltd together with Latvijas Zaļais punkts. After collection, the textiles are sorted, assessed, cleaned, and prepared for reuse. This extends the lifecycle of textiles while reducing the environmental impact of the sector.

This approach is a significant step towards the development of a circular economy in Latvia, as textiles are among the most resource-intensive consumer goods. For example, producing a single pair of new jeans requires approximately 3,000–4,000 litres of water, as well as cotton, energy, and chemicals. Therefore, ensuring a full circular cycle helps reduce the use of raw materials, minimizes waste generation, and promotes more responsible consumption.

The store’s assortment includes clothing for both women and men, including high-quality items from luxury brand collections.

“Lab! veikals” is a retail concept by Eco Baltia vide Ltd that promotes reuse and the practical implementation of circular economy principles, offering repaired, tested, and reuse-ready products. The store was established with support from the LIFE Waste To Resources IP project (LIFE20 IPE/LV/000014) and serves as a practical example of how to extend product lifecycles, reduce waste, and make circular solutions accessible to the public.