Zero waste Live!

How can we create zero waste textile systems?

2nd June 2022 · 2:00 PM (CET)

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Fast fashion – the constant flow of new styles with cheap prices and poor quality – has skyrocketed the number of textiles we use and waste in Europe. The textile chain is problematic on both ends: cotton requires huge amounts of water and pesticides, chemical use is extensive in the colouring part, and about half of the textiles we use are made of man-made fibres, meaning mostly fossil oil. On the other end, poor quality makes reuse difficult, and Europe lacks the infrastructure to recycle textiles, which leads to most of it being incinerated or landfilled, while a fraction is sent outside its borders, where its fate is unknown.

On average, a European produces about 11kg of textile waste annually. The European Union has woken up to the challenge and set a requirement for the member states to start a separate collection of textiles by 2025. Recycling mixed materials, unknown chemicals and poor quality fibres is challenging, and the end product is often of inferior quality. A more holistic approach, in which recycling is on only one part of the solution, is required. Rationalizing textile use through better quality and care, and preventing textiles from becoming waste is key to solve the problem on both ends.

This webinar will go into greater depth to answer these key questions: 

  • What makes the circular economy of textiles challenging?
  • How can we tackle the textile waste problem holistically and according to the waste hierarchy?
  • What is expected from cities to meet the EU requirements and how can separate collection be implemented efficiently?

This webinar is an official EU Green Week Partner event.

Speakers

Urška Trunk

Campaign Manager, Changing Markets Foundation

Urska Trunk has worked as the Changing Markets Foundation’s Campaign Manager since 2017, where she has been responsible for running campaigns on sustainable fashion. Prior to that she acquired years of experience in various fields, including carbon markets and the EU environmental and agriculture policies. Urska holds a Master’s Degree in European Politics and Policies from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium.

Tracy Kinden

Co-Founder, TEXroad

Traci’s career started with textile printing, innovation, and technology and process development. This was a critical introduction to the textile supply chain, product manufacturing, and complex, multi- stakeholder projects, which she used to cultivate unique expertise in circular textiles. Since 2013, Traci has gained a deep understanding of textile waste, recycling, and circularity through hands-on and multi- stakeholder projects. Today REvolve and TEXroad develop knowledge, data, and materials flows for a circular textile industry.

Sini Ilmonen

Senior Specialist on Circular Economy and Co-Creation at Lounais-Suomen Jätehuolto

Sini Ilmonen manages circular economy development projects at Lounais-Suomen Jätehuolto, Finland, aiming to create a systemic change from linear to circular economy. She is also co-founder of the Telaketju network, focusing on end-of-life textiles, developing circular businesses and coordinating research and development projects within the textile field.

Webinar features

  • Learn from frontrunners and high level experts without leaving your office
  • Understand how to design and implement successful zero waste programmes at the local level
  • Learn the stories behind the best practices
  • Be one step ahead with key conversations related to zero waste and circular economy strategies
  • Connect with like-minded local stakeholders

Enjoy the Webinar!

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Supported by the LIFE Programme of the European Union. This website does not necessarily reflect the views of the donors.