International circular economy specialist Reconomy has joined ReHubs, a cross-industry initiative aimed at accelerating the transition toward a circular textile economy in Europe.
The alliance brings together more than 30 stakeholders across the textile value chain, including collectors, sorters, recyclers, brands, Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs), and policy experts. Through collaborative projects and its dedicated think tank platform, ReHubs focuses on fostering investment, promoting knowledge exchange, and coordinating industry-wide action to improve textile circularity.
Expanding Collaboration Across the Textile Value Chain
Reconomy’s entry into ReHubs reflects a broader industry push to address structural challenges in textile waste management. As a key operator of textile Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes, the company works with global brands and producers to manage end-of-life obligations for textile products.
EPR frameworks, which are gaining momentum across Europe, require producers to take financial and operational responsibility for the collection, reuse, recycling, and disposal of their products. These regulations are expected to play a central role in reshaping the textile value chain in the coming years.
By joining ReHubs, Reconomy aims to expand its existing network of sorting and recycling partners, while contributing operational expertise to support both closed-loop and open-loop recycling solutions.
Addressing Europe’s Growing Textile Waste Challenge
The partnership comes at a critical time for the European textile sector. Current estimates indicate that less than half of used garments in Europe are collected for reuse or recycling, while only around 1% are recycled into new clothing.
Read more:Â Europe Must Reach a Tipping Point to Scale Textile-to-textile Recycling, New BCG and Rehubs Report Finds
This gap highlights the urgent need for scalable infrastructure, improved collection systems, and stronger collaboration between stakeholders to enable circular material flows.
Industry Response to Regulatory Pressure
According to Reconomy, participation in ReHubs will strengthen its position in supporting brands as they navigate increasingly complex regulatory requirements. The alliance is expected to play a key role in aligning industry practices with upcoming European sustainability policies.
Inge Bujakiewicz Baars, Head of Sustainability, Security & Quality at Reconomy, described the move as a timely step amid a wave of regulation targeting the sector’s low levels of circularity. She emphasized the importance of collaboration in building a more sustainable and resource-efficient textile industry.
Toward a More Circular Textile Economy
As regulatory frameworks tighten and environmental pressures increase, initiatives such as ReHubs are becoming central to the industry’s transition toward circularity. The integration of operational players like Reconomy signals a shift toward more coordinated, large-scale solutions that combine policy alignment, infrastructure development, and industry collaboration.
The development also underscores a broader transformation within the textile sector, where waste is increasingly viewed not as a liability, but as a resource within a circular system.
