Ecodesign: challenges, tools and opportunities for companies in the Textile District

In collaboration with economiacircolare.com

The textile sector is undergoing crucial transformations, including those arising from the development of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). The program highlights how regulatory frameworks are evolving to impose higher standards in terms of durability, repairability and circularity.
Innovation is a key factor for competitiveness, with leading companies pioneering the development of high-performance fibres of biological origin and advanced materials. The event aims to provide an update on the context in terms of challenges to be addressed and tools to be implemented, as well as on institutional initiatives at European and national level. In particular, complex technical challenges will be explored in depth, including material flow analysis (MFA) of textile flows, the promotion of reuse and the latest research on reducing microfibre release. In addition, space will be dedicated to replicable good practices and initiatives by companies and associations operating in the textile sector, highlighting how the synergy between circular design and product and process innovation is laying the foundations for a resilient, low-carbon future for the European textile sector, and how innovation in this sector must follow the principles of safety and sustainability from the very design of chemicals and materials.

Session Chairs

Serenella Sala, JRC Ispra - Head of Unit Sustainable Supply Chains and Bioeconomy
Claudia Brunori, ENEA (National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development) – Director of the Department for Sustainability, Circularity and Climate Change Adaptation of Production and Territorial Systems

Program

10.00 Session 1 - Ecodesign: The context and initiatives at European and national level
Moderator: Alessandra De Santis, President - Editrice Circolare Soc. Coop. - EconomiaCircolare.com

Context overview and support tools
Daniela Claps, Head of the Strategic Technical Support Section, Department for Sustainability, Circularity and Climate Change Adaptation of Production and Territorial Systems - ENEA

Preparatory studies for the European Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and on textile flows in Europe – MFA Analysis
Serenella Sala, Head of Unit Sustainable Supply Chains and Bioeconomy - JRC Ispra

The commitment of the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy in support of businesses
Roberto Tatò, Head of Division III. Energy and enterprises, green economy and technologies, blue economy, Directorate General for industrial policy, reconversion and industrial crisis, innovation, SMEs and made in Italy, Department for enterprise policies - MIMIT

The initiatives of the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security for the implementation of the Ecodesign Regulation
Pietro Agrello, Head of Division II – Integrated product policies and eco-sustainability of consumption, minimum environmental criteria and certifications, Directorate General for product and consumption sustainability (SPC), Department for Sustainable Development - MASE

11.00 Session 2 - The positioning of Italian textile districts in relation to the Ecodesign Regulation
Moderator: Eleonora Foschi, ENEA

The positioning of the Prato textile district
Leonardo Marchetti, Project Manager – Next Technology Tecnotessile

The positioning of the Carpi textile district
Emilio Bonfiglioli, Technical Manager - Centro Qualità Tessile

The positioning of the Varese textile district
Paolo Ghezzo, Product Manager – CENTROCOT

11.30 Session 3 - Good practices and Ecodesign experiences in the textile sector
Moderator: Serenella Sala, JRC Ispra

Speakers:
Graziano Meloni, CEO – MANTEIA
Natalia Gil Lopez, Head of Environmental Policy – CNA
Alfio Fontana, Corporate Partnership & CSR Manager – Humana People to People Italia
Luca Campadello, Director General – Erion Textiles
Vittoria Moccagatta, Journalist – EconomiaCircolare.com and PhD Candidate - ISIA Roma Design

12.30 Closing remarks by the Session Chairs