Advancing Sustainable Textiles in the Circular Economy through Innovative EPR Schemes
Textiles are the fourth highest-pressure category for the use of primary raw materials and water and fifth for greenhouse gas emissions and a major source of microplastic pollution.
Textile industry is facing several issues:
Within this technical and regulatory (Circular Economy Action Plan, Textile Strategy, Waste Framework Directive) contexts, Textile Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes represent a pivotal opportunity for the European Union to implement circular business models and solidify its position as a global sustainability leader within the textile industry. In fact, EPR:
This is where TRUSTex comes into play.
Once the project is finished at the end of 2027, it will have delivered a set of solutions (TRL7-8) and recommendations, encompassing policy analyses, innovative materials research, and technological breakthroughs around waste management and digitalization, all aimed at revolutionizing the textile waste management value chain in compliance with EU directives, particularly the ESPR and WFD.
Within the framework of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) under the Waste Framework Directive (WFD) (collection, sorting, reuse, and recycling of textiles) and going further by applying upstream solutions (dismantling methods, Ecodesign aspects: incorporation of recycled fibres to enable recycling, Digital Product Passport development to facilitate garment identification and traceability), TRUSTex will:
