Euratex has set out a new strategy, with its members and companies, to design solutions fit for enabling circular economy in the textile industry on a wider scale. The strategy will focus on the roles of the industry, of the EU and local policy makers, the needs to remove barriers, research and innovation and partnerships that circularity demands.
“We need new partnerships to promote sustainable purchasing practices and create a demand for circularity of products; we need to relay on smart policy measures which reward business investments and entrust a level playing field competition on a global scale for the responsible businesses,” Alberto Paccanelli, Euratex president-elect.
The European industry and global leading fashion organisations have begun the reshaping of the textile and apparel sector. Simultaneously, a call for cooperation and new partnerships has also been launched from Frankfurt and Copenhagen, world’s leading meeting points for textile manufacturing and fashion.
As the voice of the European textile and clothing industry, Euratex is working to achieve a favourable environment within the European Union for design, development, manufacture and marketing of textile and clothing products.
On 14 May, a day ahead of the Copenhagen Fashion Summit 2019, five leading apparel organisations partnered calling on existing and forthcoming EU policymakers to rethink tools to establish a circular fashion system. The joint industry manifesto will set the scene framing agreed key issues which shall inspire industry and policy makers’ actions notably to bring on board all steps of the value chain, local and global actors, SMEs, consumers, Euratex said in a press release.
“We believe joint endeavors can win global challenges. The manifesto shows that finding new ways for unprecedented coordination is possible,” Mauro Scalia, Euratex director of sustainable businesses, said.
“This manifesto is extremely significant as it is the first time so many influential organisations in the fashion industry have come together to work with policymakers on a unified approach to circularity,”Eva Kruse, CEO and president, Global Fashion Agenda.
“IAF will actively use its worldwide network to help create the connections for a global approach to circular fashion,” Matthijs Crietee, secretary general, IAF, said.
“Through this European collaboration we can support legislation that promotes lasting industry improvements globally,” Baptiste Carrière-Pradal, vice president, SAC, said.
