Textiles Recycling Expo 2025 Sets the Tone for Europe’s Circular Textile Future

The first edition of the Textiles Recycling Expo 2025 in Brussels brought together innovators, brands, policymakers, and recyclers to accelerate circularity in textiles. With cutting-edge recycling technologies on display and calls for robust EU policy frameworks, the event spotlighted the need to scale solutions through business model innovation, financing, and regulatory clarity.

Sebastian Schmidt

11 June 2025

4 minutes

Long Story, Cut Short

There was a sobering, albeit not entirely surprising, statement by multiple brand representatives: the mass market is currently unwilling to pay a premium for products made from recycled textiles.
The event reinforced the urgent need for a clear, simple, and ambitious EU policy framework for textiles. Multiple stakeholders highlighted how regulation can create clarity, which in turn drives investment security.
The core technical capabilities for textile recycling already exist. The real challenges lie in the scaling of these technologies into commercially viable, industrial-scale solutions and therefore in the areas of business models, financing and logistics.

The People and Key Takeaways

Organised by AMI Plastics, the inaugural edition, held at Brussels Expo, a central and accessible venue for a topic so closely tied to European policy initiatives and industrial strategy, managed to gather a broad spectrum of participants, from textile brands and recycling technology providers to EU policymakers, NGOs, and governmental institutions. Given the increasing urgency around sustainable practices within the textile industry, the timing of this expo was both appropriate and revealing of the sector’s current dynamics.

First and foremost, it became evident that the core technical capabilities for textile recycling already exist. Whether through automated sorting, mechanical or thermomechanical recycling processes for cotton and polyester or emerging chemical recycling methods for blended fibres, the sector is no longer constrained by a lack of technical solutions. However, the real challenges lie in the scaling of these technologies into commercially viable, industrial-scale solutions and therefore in the areas of business models, financing and logistics.

Secondly, there was a sobering, albeit not entirely surprising, statement by multiple brand representatives: the mass market is currently unwilling to pay a premium for products made from recycled textiles. This insight was repeatedly mentioned during panel discussions and one-on-one conversations. Even though in my opinion this is not always the case and might differ largely from one textile brand to another, it underscores the importance of moving beyond technical readiness and addressing consumer acceptance, price sensitivity, and value chain incentives.

Thirdly, the event reinforced the urgent need for a clear, simple, and ambitious EU policy framework for textiles. Multiple stakeholders highlighted how regulation can create clarity, which in turn drives investment security — a prerequisite for scaling up textiles recycling infrastructure and business models for a real market transformation.

Ultimately, a holistic approach necessitates tackling post-industrial and post-consumer waste at an industrial scale, while also acknowledging that recycling, though absolutely crucial, is one of several strategies for enhancing sustainability within the sector.

A Well-Curated Conference

One of the event’s main strengths was its carefully assembled programme of talks, panel discussions, and keynote presentations. The organisers succeeded in balancing technical, regulatory, and business-oriented content, which made the sessions relevant for a diverse audience.

Topics ranged from automated sorting, fibre-to-fibre recycling technologies and chemical recycling processes to discussions about Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), regulatory developments within the EU, and the future of textile waste management in Europe. Panels frequently combined representatives from different parts of the value chain, which allowed for engaging in multi-perspective conversations. The high quality of speakers, alongside the relevance of the presented topics, ensured that the conference rooms remained well attended throughout both days. Particularly well-received were the panel discussions involving EU Commission officials, which highlighted the importance of the anticipated regulatory framework for textiles under the European Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan.

Constructive Professional Exchange

In terms of exhibitors, the Textile Recycling Expo 2025 managed to attract a compelling line-up of companies at the forefront of recycling technology. These included providers of mechanical, thermo-mechanical and chemical recycling solutions, textile sorting technologies and logistics services tailored for circular value chains. It was encouraging to see the presence of innovators working on topics such as automated fibre identification, closed-loop recycling systems etc.

Beyond the technology providers, several textile brands participated actively in the conference programme. This underlined a growing recognition among brands that circularity is not a distant ideal but an operational necessity. The event also drew in NGOs, researchers, waste management companies, and policymakers — creating a diverse audience. Conversations among participants often went beyond interest and delved into serious discussions about collaboration, business model innovation, and regulatory challenges. One of the most positive aspects of the event was therefore the quality of the professional exchanges it enabled. Whether in scheduled one-on-one meetings, informal discussions over coffee, or spontaneous encounters in the exhibition hall, it was possible to engage in meaningful conversations with experts from different backgrounds. It’s fair to say that the event managed to foster a collaborative atmosphere. Particularly valuable were exchanges that went beyond the already proven technical feasibility of various recycling methods and rather focused on the operational challenges involved in scaling them up.

Areas for Improvement

As with any inaugural event, several logistical aspects could benefit from optimisation in future editions. Notably, the scheduling of the event was suboptimal for two reasons: it coincided with the Global Fashion Summit in Copenhagen, which led to a split in audience and media attention; and it took place immediately before Eid al-Adha, the second most significant holiday in the Muslim world. Given the global nature of the textile industry, greater cultural and calendar awareness would be advisable in future planning. On a more practical level, there were long queues at the catering stations during breaks, a limited number of quiet areas for networking or working on a laptop, and no secure cloakroom facilities — minor but noticeable shortcomings that are, however, understandable at a first-time event.