Towards Sustainable Textile System

Description

Textiles are one of the high-pressure categories for the use of primary raw materials and water, and for Greenhouse Gas emission. Sustainable and circular approaches are necessary for reduction of negative environmental impacts of textile sector. Circular economy of textile is focusing on more sustainable textile value chains and waste prevention. This can be done by promoting the longevity and extended textile product use cycles, and recycling materials of discarded textiles into secondary raw materials.
Collaborative research carried out within 2015-2024 focused on supporting circular economy transformation in Finland. Over 100 organizations have been involved Telaketju network within several projects that have received funding from different funding agencies, with Telavalue (2022-2024) being the latest one. The vision of this Telavalue was to find solutions to sustainability and waste problems related to current textile system through circular economy. We have shared a vision that that future textile ecosystem should be based on value chains enabling sustainable production, use and cycles of textiles. While consumers have huge role in sustainability of textile ecosystem, efficient product use should also be enabled by textile sector by applying circular design strategies and novel business models, as well as by ensuring efficient textile material circulation via recycling of end-of-life products.
Within Telaketju projects we have generated lots of information needed by textile sector to make the transition. Adoption of circular economy strategies and business models makes it necessary to, for example, form new kinds of value chains and partnerships also to handle reverse logistics; engage and commit customers weather they are consumers or other businesses; collect, handle, and utilize more product data and other types of information than are used in linear economy; and have understanding of quality properties of recyclate and recycled intermediate products. Furthermore, we have developed technologies and other solutions for the use of industry.
This presentation summarised main achievements of the Telaketju network and research conducted within Telaketju projects, especially Telavalue project. With the support of this collaboration, the Finland is one of the forerunners of textile circularity: separate collection of textile waste started in 2023; new partnerships and companies have been established; investments made to recycling infrastructure; and companies’ interest towards novel business models is high. Presentation also introduces EU tExtended project, where expertise and knowledge of generated in Finland is used and refined in collaboration with European wide consortium.

Period	28 May 2025
Event title	iTechStyle Summit 2025
Event type	Conference
Location	PortoShow on map
Degree of Recognition	International