Let’s bring circularity back in fashion. Textile industry
27th October 2023

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Where is the textile industry heading? What risks does the current linear approach to business in the industry pose, and what must be done to move dynamically toward a more sustainable future? These issues related to textiles and fashion in a circular context were discussed by experts, entrepreneurs, and representatives of the scientific community during the final day of Circular Week 2023, on October 27, 2023, at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Warsaw.

 

At the end of March 2022, the European Commission presented the 'EU Strategy for Sustainable Textile Products in a Circular Economy,' aiming to ensure a harmonized, more environmentally friendly, modern, and competitive development of this sector. Considering facts such as the average European discarding around 11 kilograms of textile products each year, and a truckload of such products being burned or stored every second worldwide, this is a serious and urgent issue. Between 2000 and 2015, textile product production (in clothing, furniture, vehicles, buildings, or medical equipment) nearly doubled, and consumption, including footwear and clothing, has accelerated so much that it is projected to increase by over 60 percent by 2030. The good news is that on June 1, 2023, the European Parliament voted on recommendations regarding the EU strategy to fulfill commitments made under the European Green Deal.

 

For years, many people have been working, including in projects like the 'New Cotton Project' funded by the European Union since 2020, on producing new textile fibers based on cellulose, as well as plants or mycelium, which can also be used to replace animal skin and plastics. Scientists worldwide are exploring alternatives to protect natural resources through smart and sustainable use.

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Effective recycling, upcycling, textile production from organic fabrics, and a dynamic circular economy model are simultaneously reducing waste, carbon footprint, changing awareness and social attitudes, and caring for the climate and Earth's resources.

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The expert roundtable on the future of the textile industry focused on reshaping the textile sector with a circular economy and sustainability in mind. The conversation explored the risks associated with the industry's then-current linear approach, which depleted resources and harmed the environment, underlining the vital importance of adopting circular practices. Topics discussed included innovative strategies like recycling, upcycling, and eco-friendly materials, all aimed at reducing waste and the industry's carbon footprint.

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After the expert discussions, we moved to Złote Tarasy for an afternoon event in the heart of the capital, where specialists repaired clothes and created wonders from used garments.