The EU Textiles Ecosystem Challenge Campaign Workshop: “Circular Economy and Innovation in the TCLF: business opportunities, scale-up waste management and bio-based materials”

This Challenge Campaign Workshop of the EU Textiles Ecosystem Platform is devoted to the topic of “Circular Economy and Innovation in the TCLF (Textiles, clothing, leather and footwear): business opportunities, scale-up waste management and bio-based materials”. It will bring together stakeholders from across the textiles, clothing, leather and footwear value chain, including technology providers, business representatives, EPR consortia, waste management operators, end-users of recycled materials, brands, designers, material suppliers, researchers, NGOs, institutions, and policymakers.

The workshop will explore emerging innovations and business models for circular waste management, alongside developments in sustainable and bio-based raw materials, two areas that are becoming increasingly strategic to the competitiveness and circular transition of the European TCLF sector.

This plenary event at Ecomondo will present to a broader audience the key findings, insights, and recommendations emerging from the break-out room discussions of this Challenge Campaign. It will provide a platform to discuss and validate priorities, foster dialogue across stakeholder groups, and identify potential pathways for future collaboration and action in support of circular innovation and competitiveness within the EU textiles ecosystem.
To ensure a focused and productive exchange, the break-out sessions preceding the plenary are reserved for a selected group of invited stakeholders whose expertise and experience will help shape the discussion and contribute to the development of actionable outcomes and future initiatives.

Programme

17:00 Welcome and introduction to the “EU Textiles Ecosystem Platform”
Marco Ricchetti, Co-founder and Member of the Board, Blumine

17:10 Circular Economy as a driver of competitiveness and innovative business models in the TCLF industries
Stefano Soro, Head of Unit “Sustainable Products and Textiles”, European Commission (DG GROW)

17:20 Introduction to the Challenge Campaign Workshop as a Space for Innovation
Marco Ricchetti, Co-founder and Member of the Board, Blumine

17:25 Circular Economy & Innovation: Key Insights from a collaborative session with experts and practitioners 
Facilitators of the Collaborative Session

17:55 Closing
Marco Ricchetti, Co-founder and Member of the Board, Blumine

The event is part of a project - EU Textiles ecosystem platform - commissioned by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (ESMEA) and the European Commission (DG GROW) and implemented by EY, CSIL, SDA Bocconi School of Management, Blumine, and ITA Technologietransfer.