During the European Week of Regions and Cities 2024, a session titled "A New Way of Making: The Creation of a European Circular Textile Lifecycle" took place, hosted by Erwin Hoogland, Regional Minister of Overijssel, presenting Think East Netherlands Helga Witjes, Regional Minister of Gelderland, presented a position paper on behalf of 11 European Textile Regions to Gabriella Waibel, Policy Officer for Circular Economy at the European Commission. This paper advocates for the mandatory inclusion of a minimum percentage of recycled materials in clothing as a vital step in establishing a circular and sustainable textile industry.<img src="https://cms.thinkeast.nl/uploads/Whats_App_Image_2024_10_14_at_11_56_53_4553594dcd.jpeg" alt="WhatsApp Image 2024-10-14 at 11.56.53.jpeg" srcset="https://cms.thinkeast.nl/uploads/thumbnail_Whats_App_Image_2024_10_14_at_11_56_53_4553594dcd.jpeg 117w,https://cms.thinkeast.nl/uploads/small_Whats_App_Image_2024_10_14_at_11_56_53_4553594dcd.jpeg 375w,https://cms.thinkeast.nl/uploads/medium_Whats_App_Image_2024_10_14_at_11_56_53_4553594dcd.jpeg 563w,https://cms.thinkeast.nl/uploads/large_Whats_App_Image_2024_10_14_at_11_56_53_4553594dcd.jpeg 750w," sizes="100vw" width="1200" height="1600">The session was hosted by Committee of the Regions member Erwin Hoogland, regional minister of Overijssel.” The aim of this workshop is to clarify to the Committee of the Regios, the European Commission and the audience our experiences in the East Netherlands region and 10 other European regions and what we believe needs to change to transform the current polluting and harmful textile industry into a circular, environmentally friendly and profitable market”. The regions have a clear call to action: to swiftly implement regulations that mandate recycled content in clothing, accelerate the transition to a circular textile value chain in Europe.“We need urgent action to mandate a minimum percentage of recycled materials in clothing,” emphasized Helga Witjes. “This is important not only to protect industry leaders but also to accelerate innovation and ensuring the growth of a sustainable textile economy. Innovative companies embedded in the regions like RECYC'ELIT, Saxcell, and Hilaturas Arnau are already leading the way, but they need clear policies to scale up.”Wendy de Jong, CEO of Oost NL and panelist during the session, also emphasized the urgency of quick action. "Not only do we need European measures to enhance a level playing field with virgin textiles. Innovative companies in the textile recycling sector also have trouble with growing their business because that requires clear policies that support their circular business models. As Regional Development Agency have several activities with which we enhance circular entrepreneurship. We for an example invest in companies to build up a European circular textile value chain. We do this together with our partners in the I3 project RegioGreenTex. The I3 is an essential European Instrument to support scaling of innovations by SMEs ," said De Jong.<img src="https://cms.thinkeast.nl/uploads/Whats_App_Image_2024_10_11_at_11_30_51_68ba070819.jpeg" alt="WhatsApp Image 2024-10-11 at 11.30.51.jpeg" srcset="https://cms.thinkeast.nl/uploads/thumbnail_Whats_App_Image_2024_10_11_at_11_30_51_68ba070819.jpeg 117w,https://cms.thinkeast.nl/uploads/small_Whats_App_Image_2024_10_11_at_11_30_51_68ba070819.jpeg 375w,https://cms.thinkeast.nl/uploads/medium_Whats_App_Image_2024_10_11_at_11_30_51_68ba070819.jpeg 563w,https://cms.thinkeast.nl/uploads/large_Whats_App_Image_2024_10_11_at_11_30_51_68ba070819.jpeg 750w," sizes="100vw" width="1536" height="2048"><h3>Regional Innovations from the region East Netherlands</h3>In addition to the policy message, the region of East Netherlands also presented regional innovations during the session, including SMEs RECYC'ELIT (FR), Saxcell (NL), and Hilaturas Arnau (SP). These examples highlighted the importance of interregional cooperation and investments for the development of a European circular textile value chain.The session brought together representatives from the I3 RegioGreenTex project, the S3 Community of Practice 'Smart Regional Investments in Textile Innovation', and the Horizon Europe partnership for the Textiles of the Future. The goal was to emphasize to policymakers and other stakeholders the urgent need for innovation, investment, and collaboration to accelerate circular textile value chains in Europe.<a href="https://cms.thinkeast.nl/uploads/Regio_Green_Tex_position_paper_a47da11dd8.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Read the position paper here.&nbsp;</a>

11 European Textile Regions call for mandatory use of recycled materials in clothing to accelerate the circular textile industry