Post-consumer textiles in the global arena: single market and resource optimization as key drivers

The EU Single Market is pivotal to streamlining the trade and management of post-consumer textiles on a global scale. By dismantling regulatory barriers within a unified framework, there is a clear opportunity to scale up material recovery, reuse, and recycling across borders while fostering cross-industry collaboration. Achieving a truly circular textile economy relies on harmonizing standards and aligning definitions between European and global commerce.
The panel will explore how to operationalize this vision, balancing resource optimization with strict environmental risk management, traceability, and operational transparency.
Key discussion themes:

•    End of Waste & quality requirements: the need for harmonized standards to properly classify and manage items destined for reuse.

•    The single market as an enabler of circularity: opportunities for streamlining cross-border material flows and fostering a circular textile economy.

•    Global trade of second-hand goods: managing international commerce dynamics while ensuring traceability and environmental protection.

Bringing together diverse perspectives from across the sector.

Session Chair

Andreia Barbosa, Board Member – Textiles Division (Bureau of International Recycling – BIR) and Circular Economy Officer (Humana People to People)

Program 

Introduction by the Chair

Speeches by:

Stefano Soro, Head of Unit Sustainable Products & Textiles, European Commission – DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs

Ekaterina Stoyanova, Senior Policy Advisor of Recycling Europe

Sirma Zheleva, Head of the Sustainability Unit of TexCycle and Executive Director of Bulgarian Association Circular Textile – BACT

Circle Economy – TBD 

Landbell Group – TBD 

Q&A, Discussion and Closing Remarks by the Chair