European Circular Textile Coalition unites innovators to drive sustainability, boost recycling technologies, and accelerate Europe’s journey toward a waste-free circular economy. 20-10-2025
European Circular Textile Coalition Launched to Accelerate a Waste-Free Future
A new alliance of textile innovators is taking bold steps to transform how Europe makes, recycles, and reuses fabrics. Reju and eleven other companies across the textile value chain have officially launched the European Circular Textile Coalition, accompanied by a detailed manifesto calling for decisive European Union (EU) action to establish a fully Circular Textile economy.
The coalition’s message is clear: textile waste is not an unavoidable outcome — it’s a design flaw that can be fixed through coordinated policy, innovation, and investment.
A Call to End Textile Waste
The manifesto issued by the European Circular Textile Coalition opens with a strong statement:
“We refuse to accept textile waste as an inevitability; instead, we see it as a solvable challenge for our generation. Without system readiness, even the most forward-looking regulations risk falling short. We are here to help bridge that gap.”
This declaration captures the essence of the Circular Textile movement — a shift from a linear “make-use-dispose” model toward a regenerative loop that keeps materials in use longer, reduces waste, and supports a low-carbon economy.
By creating a united front, the coalition seeks to accelerate Europe’s transition toward sustainability through practical frameworks and binding policies rather than relying solely on voluntary industry commitments.
The Three Pillars of the Manifesto
At the core of the manifesto are three policy pillars that lay out a roadmap for achieving a truly Circular Textile ecosystem across Europe:
1. Strengthen Europe’s Textile Chain Competitiveness
The first pillar emphasizes the importance of reshoring textile production to Europe. This would not only enhance the region’s strategic autonomy but also ensure that environmental and labour standards are upheld throughout the textile supply chain.
By localizing production, the coalition believes Europe can rebuild capacity, shorten supply chains, and reduce the carbon footprint associated with long-distance manufacturing. This move would create a more transparent and resilient Circular Textile economy.
2. Prioritize High-Quality Textile-to-Textile Recycling
The second pillar calls for making post-consumer textile waste the main raw material for new fabric production. To achieve this, the coalition advocates investment in advanced textile sorting, fibre regeneration, and recycling technologies capable of maintaining fibre quality.
This approach moves beyond downcycling — where fabrics are converted into lower-value materials — to true circularity, where fibres from old garments become the building blocks for new ones.
3. Mandate Recycled Content in Textiles
Finally, the third pillar urges the EU to set mandatory recycled content targets in textiles, phased in gradually to ensure market stability. These targets would drive demand for recycled fibres, stimulate investment in collection systems, and close the loop on material flows.
The manifesto underscores that voluntary measures have proven insufficient and that binding standards are now essential to foster genuine market transformation.
Industry Voices: Collaboration Is Key
Patrik Frisk, CEO of Reju, highlighted the importance of collaboration in driving systemic change:
“Reju is a system change company, and we strongly believe that change happens through collaboration. This coalition is vital to drive transformation collectively as an industry pulling together, and we welcome more businesses to join us.”
Frisk’s statement reinforces the coalition’s mission to build shared momentum among manufacturers, recyclers, innovators, and policymakers. By joining forces, members can align on technology standards, create scalable infrastructure, and build public-private partnerships to accelerate the Circular Textile transition.
The Coalition Members
The European Circular Textile Coalition brings together pioneers from across the textile ecosystem, each contributing unique expertise in materials, technology, and recycling. Founding members include:
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Reju
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Resortecs
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COLEO
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Tissage de Charlieu
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Synergies TLC
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Nouvelles Fibres Textiles
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Sympany
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European Spinning Group
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Ariadne
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Erdotex
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Utexbel
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Noyfil
This diverse membership base spans fibre producers, recyclers, spinners, and textile technology companies — forming an integrated network capable of influencing policy and scaling solutions for Circular Textile systems.
Why Circularity Matters
The EU generates over 12 million tonnes of textile waste annually, and less than 1% is recycled back into new clothing. The Circular Textile model aims to reverse this trend by promoting design for recyclability, efficient material recovery, and reuse.
Circularity not only reduces waste but also cuts emissions, conserves resources, and drives innovation. By designing textiles that can be disassembled, remanufactured, or biodegraded, the industry can drastically reduce its environmental footprint while meeting growing consumer demand for sustainability.
The coalition’s initiative aligns with the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles, which seeks to ensure that by 2030, all textiles sold in Europe are durable, repairable, and recyclable.
“Now Is the Time to Act”
The coalition’s manifesto ends with a sense of urgency:
“Voluntary efforts have proven grossly insufficient; we need binding standards to drive demand for recycled materials. Now is the time to act—because when a world without waste is possible, we cannot afford to wait!”
This powerful statement captures the coalition’s belief that Europe has both the technological capability and moral responsibility to lead the global shift toward Circular Textile systems.
Implications for the Textile Industry
For industry players, the formation of the European Circular Textile Coalition signals an important turning point:
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Manufacturers can explore new business models such as textile-as-a-service, product take-back schemes, and recycling collaborations.
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Recyclers and technology providers can scale advanced sorting, chemical recycling, and traceability systems.
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Fashion brands can integrate circular design principles, ensuring garments are easier to disassemble and recycle.
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Investors can support infrastructure and innovation projects that align with Europe’s green transition goals.
Ultimately, this coalition is setting the stage for a resilient, future-ready textile industry built on circularity, transparency, and accountability.
Final Thoughts
The launch of the European Circular Textile Coalition represents a crucial milestone in Europe’s journey toward sustainability. By combining policy advocacy, industrial innovation, and collaborative energy, these companies are reshaping the future of textiles — from waste-heavy production to a regenerative, Circular Textile economy.
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