Our recent participation in the Textiles Recycling Expo in Brussels on the 4-5th June provided valuable insights into the rapid evolution of textile recycling solutions. As the first event of its kind, it marked an important milestone for the circularity community and demonstrated significant progress in addressing one of our industry’s most pressing challenges, transforming textile waste into valuable resources.
The atmosphere at the event was energising. The expo was absolutely packed. The first day saw attendees even sitting on the floor joining the jam packed conference programme, the aisles in the exhibition hall were busy, and every exhibitor stand reported having new visitors round the clock. This dynamic platform, made possible by AMI Plastics, brought together a unique mix of practitioners, technology innovators, and recyclers working directly on the ground to scale circular textiles solutions.
The exhibition floor featured several notable innovations. BASF’s presentation of their loopamid® material, derived entirely from post-consumer textile waste including complex blends, represented a meaningful advancement in material science. TrinamiX demonstrated their portable PAL Two Spectrometer technology, which offers practical potential to revolutionize sorting processes through instant material identification. While the event offered valuable insights, representation from key producing regions, particularly in Asia and Africa, was limited, with a predominantly European exhibitor base. Greater inclusivity and broader engagement across the entire value chain would help make future expos even more globally representative.
We are proud to see our project “Polyester Recycling in the Moroccan Textile Industry” showcased on the panel “Make it Happen – What’s Needed to Boost Textile Recycling Rates”, with our partners from Decathlon France, Dr. Bouraoui Kechiche (Textile-to-Textile Project Manager), contributing to the discussion. The initiative is part of Invest for Jobs, the Special Initiative “Decent Work for a Just Transition” of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), implemented by GIZ Morocco in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and Trade. We are honoured to work alongside committed partners including DECATHLON MAROC, Platform & Design (Larini Group), POLYFIL, SIMTIS, and ESITH in advancing circular solutions for Morocco’s textile sector.
We had valuable discussions throughout the event that highlighted both progress and persistent challenges. Industry leaders and key players emphasised the critical need for investment to scale promising technologies, with particular attention to the capital requirements for industrial-scale fiber-to-fiber recycling facilities. Policy experts provided updates on evolving EU regulations, while also acknowledging the gaps between current recycling rates and legislative targets.
Attendees engaged in real, honest conversations. From the urgent investment needs to the policy barriers holding the sector back, many shared that the event rekindled motivation after a period of slow momentum and uncertainty in the circularity space. The expo sparked much-needed optimism amidst growing demotivation around circularity in the textile industry, and served as a reminder that collaborative action is essential. It clearly highlighted that building a strong and scalable business case for circularity will require all stakeholders to work together with urgency and alignment.
Our team contributed perspectives gained from implementation projects, particularly our work in Southeast Asia and North Africa, which offered relevant case studies for global circularity efforts. These exchanges reinforced our understanding that while technological solutions continue to advance, systemic progress will require collaboration across value chains and multi-stakeholder engagement.
The expo concluded leaving participants with a positive outlook towards the future of circularity in the textile sector. With public and private investments beginning to flow in, recyclers expanding capacity and scaling, the business case for circularity is gaining momentum. We return with strengthened partnerships, actionable insights, and renewed commitment to advancing circular solutions. For those working on similar challenges, we welcome further dialogue on how we might collaborate to accelerate progress in this ever-growing sector.
