The ECOSYSTEX Conference, held on 22-24 September 2026 in Antwerp and co-organised with the University of Antwerp, brought together participants from multiple EU-funded projects working on textile sustainability and circularity. Under the theme Circular Textiles Beyond Recycling, discussions covered EU textile policy, research and funding opportunities, skills development, circular business models and innovation across the textile value chain. The conference also marked the launch of the Bioeconomy Innovation Strategy for the European Fibres, Textiles & Apparel Industry, presented by Textile ETP, and the TCLF Skills Observatory, developed through the Skills4Circularity project to monitor skills needs and trends across the textile, clothing, leather and footwear sectors.

Sessions and workshops explored design for circularity, labelling and sorting, the 5Rs, extended producer responsibility (EPR), textile reuse and repair, recycling, digital traceability and sustainable fashion. Projects including SOLSTICE, Fabrix, CRAFT-IT4SD, Circula-TEX, CISUTAC and Just Fashion EU shared their work on local production networks, craft revitalisation, circular value chains, EPR implementation and sustainability assessment for fashion micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. Other discussions highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence-supported sorting and Digital Product Passports (DPP), while recognising ongoing technical and economic challenges in textile recycling and the need for collaboration across the value chain.

The conference concluded with visits to Kringwinkel Antwerpen, where participants saw CISUTAC pilots focused on garment repair, fibre recovery and sorting for reuse and recycling, and to MoMu- Fashion Museum Antwerp for a fashion & sustainability walk exploring the city’s fashion heritage through a sustainability lens. These activities connected the conference discussions with practical examples of circular textile initiatives, repair and reuse, and employment opportunities linked to textile circularity.

For more information, please head to ECOSYSTEX official website.