European Coalition Seeks Circular Textile Economy for a Waste-Free Future

In a significant push towards sustainability, Reju and 11 other companies operating throughout the textile value chain have officially launched the European Circular Textile Coalition. Their manifesto calls for a sweeping transformation of the textile industry in Europe, advocating for an economy that is entirely circular and devoid of waste.

Every year, Europe generates around 12.6 million tons of textile waste. Alarmingly, a vast majority of this waste is either sent to landfills or incinerated, with less than 1% being recycled into new garments. The coalition articulates that this situation has become unacceptable and unsustainable. The manifesto states, "We refuse toaccept textile waste as an inevitability; instead, we view it as a solvable challenge for our generation."

The coalition's call to action emphasizes the urgent need for the European Union to adopt robust regulations paired with significant investments in recycling infrastructures and manufacturing processes. They stress, "Even the most progressive regulations may fall short if the necessary systems are not in place. We are here to help bridge that gap."

To facilitate this change, the manifesto identifies three key political pillars:
1. Competitiveness of the European Textile Chain: The initiative aims to bring textile production back to European shores, ensuring compliance with environmental and labor standards.
2. Prioritization of High-Quality Textile Recycling: The coalition advocates for post-consumer textile waste to serve as the primary raw material for new textiles, promoting a sustainable recycling infrastructure.
3. Mandatory Recycled Content: They propose establishing ambitious yet realistic targets for recycled content in textiles that are to be introduced gradually.

Patrik Frisk, CEO of Reju, emphasizes the importance of collaboration in driving systemic change. He states, "As a company dedicated to system regeneration, we firmly believe that transformation occurs through collaboration. This manifesto is vital for evolving the industry collectively, and we invite others to join us. Our voluntary efforts have proven grossly inadequate; we need binding standards to foster demand for recycled materials on the ground."

The coalition is actively embarking on a widespread awareness campaign aimed at policymakers and is encouraging additional players in the value chain to participate in this critical mission. Frisk urges, "Now is the time to act; a world without waste is possible, and we cannot afford to wait any longer!"

About the European Circular Textile Coalition

The coalition is composed of a diverse group of companies across the textile value chain, including Reju, Resortecs, COLEO, and others like Sympany and Ariadne. Together, they are committed to advocating for a circular economy in textiles, where waste is minimized, and resources are utilized efficiently.

About Reju

Reju focuses on innovative solutions aimed at regenerating post-consumer polyester textiles and PET waste. Backed by Technip Energies and utilizing technology originally developed by IBM Research, Reju is on a mission to unlock limitless possibilities from limited resources. Their vision is to establish a global circular recycling system for textiles, promoting the regeneration and recycling of polyester materials.

For more information, visit Reju's website.