In 2017, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation found that less than 1% of material was recycled back into new clothing. The industry hasn’t made sizeable improvements since (Textile Exchange). A major barrier is a long-standing supply and demand deadlock. Brands say they cannot access enough affordable recycled fibres, while recyclers say they cannot scale without stronger, more reliable demand. As a result, textile waste continues to build and reliance on virgin fossil-fuel fibres persists.
Momentum is building through long-term offtake agreements, new state-level disposal bans and the EU’s Waste Framework Directive, and uncertainties around bottle-to-fibre that are pushing the sector toward true textile-to-textile (T2T) solutions.
With capabilities scaling, this is a key moment to consider how to build T2T systems that genuinely reduce environmental impact, avoid normalizing over-consumption, and prevent burdens from shifting to communities in the global south.
We’ll discuss:
- Practical examples already emerging from first movers. What do they reveal about real-world feasibility?
- What structural changes are required to unlock reliable demand and build a commercially viable T2T industry?
- The operational realities of overhauling textile waste systems, from collection to processing to end markets
- Unintended consequences: What are they, and how can we avoid them?
What to expect from this type of session...
Main stage sessions, but not as you know them. Because we’re off-the-record, leading experts can speak candidly about their experience with what works, and what doesn’t. At least half the session is dedicated to audience insights and questions to ensure we tackle the big issues head on.
