In 2020, Europeans generated around 6.95 million tonnes of textile waste, with cotton and polyester making up the largest shares by volume. Over the past 5–10 years, textile waste has increased due, among other factors, to rising consumption and shorter use periods for textiles products.
Reducing waste, making better use of resources and keeping materials in circulation for longer are key principles of a circular economy. But what will it take to make this transition a reality for the textile sector?
Cefic’s report, Circularity in Textiles through Value Network Collaboration, examines how circularity in textiles can be advanced through recycling and bio-based technologies, product design, and alternative business models. It highlights the importance of aligned incentives, scaling collection, sorting and recycling infrastructure, level playing field, while also pointing to the need for harmonised standards, clearer regulatory frameworks, and improved data availability.
The publication reflects the outcomes of three cross-industry workshops organised by Cefic, bringing together over 80 experts and representatives from across the textile value chain. The report explores the role of value network collaboration in advancing textile circularity, the challenges and barriers to scaling circularity, and the opportunities available to support the transition.
Challenges and opportunities for textile circularity
According to the report, several barriers continue to challenge the transition towards more circular textiles. These include fragmented requirements, limited transparency, insufficient infrastructure, and economic challenges linked to the higher costs of recycled and bio-based manmade fibres compared with virgin materials.
A key point of the publication is the importance of designing textiles for durability, recyclability and reduced environmental impact. The report also discusses the need to manage trade-offs between product performance, material complexity and recyclability.
In addition, the publication explores the potential role of tools such as the Digital Product Passport in improving access to information about products and materials. It examines the relevance of eco-design and eco-modulation approaches within regulatory frameworks such as the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes, offering insights and policy recommendations for the development of future measures enhancing circularity in the textile sector.
It includes a series of case studies demonstrating how different approaches and technologies are already being applied across the textile value chain.
Achieving circularity in textiles requires action across the entire value chain. Better and smarter product design, innovation, enabling policy and increased investment all have a role to play. Alternative business models that extend product lifetimes, such as repair, reuse, leasing and product return schemes, can also help reduce waste, keep materials in use for longer and lower the demand for virgin resources,” said Eric de Deckere, Cefic Executive Director Innovation.