Sustainable and Circular Production of Textiles, Clothing, and Footwear in its 4th Phase
The 4th Sustainable & Circular Textiles, Apparel & Footwear conference is set to take place in Brussels on the 7-8th of April, bringing together a strong panel of experts to drive textile circularity. This event, organised by Accelerating Circularity, will focus on building systems for textiles circularity and exploring the role of investments in the transition to circularity in the fashion and textile industries.
The European Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), which was approved last year, will require all brands to comply by 2027/2028. This regulation aims to enhance sustainability standards in the textile sector by promoting circular design and material efficiency, potentially enabling the EU to become a model for a circular and sustainable textile transformation.
The conference will also cover market demand and recycling infrastructure, including updates on EPR developments, collection, and sorting. The world produces 92 million tons of textile waste each year, but less than 1% of this waste is recycled into new clothing. The rise of ultra-fast fashion and declining demand for second-hand items have resulted in an oversupply of used textiles, leading to low prices and making it unprofitable for processors, sorters, and recycling facilities to survive.
The EU needs to take responsibility for its own textile waste and absorb its own recycled textiles/clothing. Technological innovations and textile-to-textile systems will be a focus of the conference, with discussions on policy and regulation updates, including ESPR, EPR, and DPP. Supply chain transparency is another topic to be addressed, as legislative changes and financial incentives are needed to support companies in the sustainable & circular textiles ecosystem.
Attendees can publish their content with EB Publishing to reach those who matter to them. The interactive workshop led by Karla Magruder of Accelerating Circularity will be a highlight of the event, providing insights into building systems for textiles circularity. Ummu Hani can be contacted for sponsor or exhibitor inquiries at [email protected].
The conference aims to inspire solutions for reducing waste and promoting sustainability in textile production and consumption. Second-hand clothing, apparel, and footwear have traditionally been sold in markets like Africa, but the rise of ultra-fast fashion and declining demand for second-hand items have led to an oversupply. This conference is a step towards addressing these issues and moving towards a more sustainable and circular textile industry.
