The European Commission released a staff working document that outlines possible scenarios and concrete actions for guiding the textile ecosystem through the green and digital transitions. This roadmap aims to co-create a more resilient, sustainable, and competitive sector by 2030, with a clear call for collaboration from industry, national authorities, and EU institutions.

The document highlights the pressing need to reconfigure the textiles value chain from manufacturing and sourcing to end-of-life processes. It reflects on the vulnerabilities exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy crisis and sets forward practical pathways to reduce dependency on global supply chains, foster circularity, and unlock digital innovation. For Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which form the backbone of the EU textiles ecosystem, it presents opportunities to scale sustainable business models, modernise production, and access EU funding for innovation and upskilling.

Key Priorities and Scenarios

Resilience: Diversifying supply chains, building recycling capacity, investing in fibre-to-fibre technologies, and enabling SMEs to access EU funds are central to ensuring stability and competitiveness.

Sustainability: Actions include implementing eco-design principles, promoting reuse and repair models, increasing the use of recycled materials, and ensuring fair working conditions across global supply chains.

Digitalisation: The pathway supports greater uptake of digital tools and data sharing, with strong backing for digital innovation hubs, e-commerce support, and smart textiles research.

This document is a valuable reference for textiles manufacturers, designers, recyclers, innovators, and clusters looking to align with the EU’s sustainability vision. It offers practical tools to transition towards greener operations, access funding and skills development, and engage with upcoming policy reforms such as the Eco-design for Sustainable Products Regulation and the Digital Product Passport. Stakeholders are encouraged to help shape the future of the ecosystem by contributing to the co-creation process and making tangible pledges.

The pathway is not a prescriptive plan but an open framework for action. It presents a rare opportunity for the textile industry to actively lead on Europe’s green and digital future through innovation, collaboration, and commitment.

Read the full document here.