The European textile and apparel industry is in a privileged position to deliver and prosper in the circular economy, says Euratex. Already Europe already boasts of a textile value chain capable of recycling fabrics, regenerating fibers and maximizing resources in production. Reducing waste, combined with an intelligent use of resources, has the potential to solve the gap resulting from natural resource scarcity and global growing population or consumption.

But while hundreds of textile businesses have successfully transitioned their business away from a linear take-make-dispose model, the potential is much greater. Investing in textile waste management to overcome technological challenges is another key consideration, as is a comprehensive approach to resource efficiency that incentivizes circular design. The high cost of fiber sorting and limits in applicable technologies for mechanical/chemical recycling are considered as an obstacle to scaling up. Private and public investment combined with appropriate regulatory policy and business will greatly help the transition from linear to circular economy.

Equally important is the role of the consumer, who should be protected from misleading claims. European and global consumers can ultimately reward the efforts made by business and policy makers by choosing better products and by making the circular economy really sustainable.