Worn-out straps and round slings for transport and heavy lifting might seem a world away from fashion, but the two industries have one thing in common: the use of virgin polyester as a key material. Together with Axel Johnson International and Filippa K, Axfoundation set out to give this industrial polyester waste new life as a recycled fashion material. Though promising findings were made, systemic challenges ultimately hindered the scaling of the solution from pilot to circular business model. This is what we learned along the way.