Julia Ettinger

A press conference for the upcoming Textiles Recycling Expo to be held in Brussels this June discussed how the event could be a catalyst to spotlight real-world solutions and accelerate their adoption across the European market, especially at a time when the political and economic case for transformation is finally aligning—if only precariously—with technological readiness.

To unlock the potential of recycled textiles and second-hand clothing, a new research proposes practical reforms to modernise outdated customs codes, introducing new codes, and create clear standards, and trader incentives that will enhance trust, trade efficiency, and transparency to better support the expanding textile circular economy.

In October, a statement from the European Recycling Industries' Confederation (EuRIC) warning that the textile reuse and recycling sector in Europe was on the verge of collapse, had sent alarm bells ringing. EuRIC Secretary-General Julia Ettinger tells texfash why the situation is so grim.