Sustainable Apparel and Textiles Conference

29th - 30th April 2026

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Matjaž Malgaj

Head of Unit - Coordinator of Sustainable Products Initiative, European Commission - DG Environment

European Commission

Mr Malgaj is coordinating work of European Commission’s departments for environment, for energy and for industry on Sustainable Products Initiative. He has over 25 years of experience in European affairs. Previously he served in various leadership and advisory roles in the European Commission, including as a Head of Cabinet of Commissioner for Environment when he helped steer the environment policy including the first EU’s resource efficiency and circular economy initiatives and the work on Sustainable Development Goals. He was also Head of Cabinet of Commissioner for Crisis Management and Head of Unit for Marine environment and Water industry policies. Between 1999 and 2004 he worked for the Government of Slovenia on country’s accession to the European Union and the European Economic Area.

Matjaž Malgaj's sessionsView full agenda

Day 0

Tuesday 28th April 2026

Time
Session title
Session type
14:45 - 17:15
Workshop
17:30 - 18:30
Networking
Day 1

Wednesday 29th April 2026

Time
Session title
Session type
10:00 - 10:45
Case study
11:30 - 12:20
Net-zero: Everyone pays for inaction. Who pays for action? 
Marks and Spencer | Soorty Enterprises | Good Fashion Fund | Action Speaks Louder | Sustainable & Social
Plenary
12:20 - 13:00
Plenary
13:00 - 14:00
14:00 - 14:45
14:45 - 15:30
15:30 - 16:00
16:30 - 17:15
17:15 - 18:15
Day 2

Thursday 30th April 2026

Time
Session title
Session type
09:00 - 10:00
The consumption cyclone: Can circularity fix overproduction? 
Hirdaramani Group | Reju | ON | Tapestry | Sustainabelle
Plenary
10:25 - 10:55
10:55 - 11:30
Transitioning to regenerative cotton: Impact, opportunity, and operational reality from farm to brand 
Turnrow Farm Services | adidas | COTTON USA™ and U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol
Case study
00:45 - 01:45
13:45 - 14:10
A just transition: How we can centre waste pickers, not just waste, in the circular economy 
Saamuhika Shakti | H&M Foundation | Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute
Plenary
14:10 - 14:50
Plenary
14:50 - 15:25
Emotional durability: Why consumers neglect the clothes they own – and how psychology can help 
University of Amsterdam | Zalando | Axel Arigato / Informed Collective
Plenary
15:25 - 15:40
Closing reflections from the next generation of designers 
Institut Francais de la Mode | Institut Français de la Mode
Plenary