Leading textile-to-textile (T2T) recycling companies, including Circ, Circulose, RE&UP, and Syre, have formed the T2T Alliance to actively shape European Union sustainability policies and accelerate the transition to a circular textile industry. This strategic collaboration aims to ensure that the voices of recyclers are heard and their expertise is integrated into critical regulatory discussions, particularly concerning the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR).
The alliance emerges as the textile industry faces increasing pressure to align with Europe’s circular economy goals. With less than 1 per cent of textiles currently being recycled, the majority ending up in landfills or incinerators, the T2T Alliance seeks to establish T2T recycling as the industry standard.
Syre CEO Dennis Nobelius emphasised the urgency, and said that EU policymakers and stakeholders are pivotal for ‘accelerating’ circularity in the textile industry and further establishing textile-to-textile recycling as the norm.
The T2T Alliance, supported by regulatory strategy consultancy 2B Policy, aims to address the current policy debates surrounding the ESPR, which are perceived to hinder the growth of T2T recycling. The alliance contends that recyclers have had minimal input in shaping these policies.
Their primary objective is to bridge this gap by providing policymakers with practical insights into sustainability regulations, promoting accountability, and advocating for textile circularity as a core element of EU policymaking.
Specifically, the alliance has provided feedback on the European Commission’s draft report on eco-design requirements for textiles, advocating for:
The inclusion of T2T recycled content and recyclability in ESPR eco-design standards. The adoption of a closed-loop recycling system encompassing post-industrial, pre-consumer, and post-consumer waste. The correction of misconceptions, such as the notion that allowing post-industrial waste to count towards recycled content targets would encourage overproduction. The implementation of diverse verification methods for accurate tracking of recycled materials.
The ESPR, which is set to enforce eco-design standards by 2028 and ban the destruction of unsold textiles and footwear, is seen as crucial for achieving the objectives of the 2020 Circular Economy Action Plan. The European Commission is expected to release its initial working plan for the ESPR this year, outlining priority product categories.
The T2T Alliance aims to ensure that the specialised knowledge of its members influences legislative developments, fostering a sustainable and viable future for the textile sector within the European Union.
