#Paris #France #Reju #Textile Waste #circular economy

European Coalition for Circular Textiles: A Sustainable Future

On October 15, 2025, in Paris, Reju, alongside 11 other companies representing the entire textile value chain, unveiled a monumental manifesto aimed at promoting a circular textile economy in Europe. This coalition emphasizes that a world without waste is not just an ideal but a feasible goal that European institutions must prioritize.

Every year, Europe produces approximately 12.6 million tons of textile waste, with the majority being landfilled, incinerated, or exported—only a mere 1% is transformed into new clothing. This alarming statistic highlights the urgent need for change, as stated in the coalition’s manifesto. The coalition firmly rejects the notion of textile waste as an unavoidable problem and frames it as a challenge that can be surmounted through collaborative efforts across the industry.

"We refuse to accept textile waste as an inevitable byproduct of our industry. It is a challenge that we are determined to tackle within our generation," the manifesto declares. The coalition calls on the European Union (EU) to take decisive action and implement ambitious regulations that align with investments in recycling and production systems to mitigate the growing waste crisis.

The coalition’s vision outlines three key political pillars:

1. Revitalizing the European Textile Chain: The coalition asserts the importance of shifting textile production back to the European shores, ensuring adherence to robust environmental and labor standards. This localization aims to promote sustainability while creating green jobs within the continent.

2. Prioritizing Textile-to-Textile Recycling: The manifesto advocates for a systematic approach to recycling, transforming post-consumer textile waste into primary resources for new textiles, thereby closing the loop in the textile production process.

3. Establishing Mandatory Recycling Quotas: The coalition proposes that the EU implement realistic yet ambitious mandatory recycling targets for textiles, ensuring a steady increase in the percentage of recycled materials utilized in production.

Patrik Frisk, CEO of Reju, highlights the need for commitment from all stakeholders to realize these changes: "Reju is a company that pioneers system changes, and we believe that transformation occurs through collaboration. This coalition is vital for driving collective change, and we encourage more companies to join our mission. Voluntary efforts have proven inadequate—binding standards are imperative to boost the demand for recycled materials."

To kickstart their initiative, the coalition will embark on an advocacy tour aimed at engaging policymakers and inviting stakeholders across the textile value chain to join their mission. As emphasized in their rallying cry, "Now is the time to act—if a waste-free world is indeed possible, we cannot afford to wait any longer!"

Get Involved

The European Circular Textile Coalition is composed of various prominent companies in the textile sector, including Reju, Resortecs, COLEO, Tissage de Charlieu, and others, all committed to a sustainable textile future. They are urging other industry players to collaborate on this critical journey towards establishing a circular textile economy, which ultimately supports green innovations and the job market.

For more information, visit Reju's website.

Conclusion

As we look towards a future with potential reduced textile waste, initiatives like the European Circular Textile Coalition provide a roadmap for actionable change within the textile sector. By shifting perspectives on textile waste and advocating for rigorous standards, the coalition aims to reshape the industry for the better, ensuring that sustainability becomes the norm rather than the exception.