The EcoFashionEU project, formally titled ‘Promoting the sustainability of small and medium textile and fashion manufacturers’, was funded by the European Union’s Single Market Programme (SMP). It aimed to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the textile and fashion industry to adopt sustainable and socially responsible business models.

The project ran from November 2022 to May 2024, with a total budget of about EUR 109 thousand. Coordinated by Biotexniko Epimilitirio Athinon in Greece, the consortium included six Greek partners and focused on capacity building, stakeholder cooperation, and policy development. 

EcoFashionEU focused on building capacities of SMEs to transition towards sustainability and circularity. It developed tailored resources, training programmes, and strategic partnerships to foster knowledge exchange and support the adoption of ethical fashion practices.  

Key achievements of the project include:

• The ETHOS Fashion Self-Assessment Toolkit, adapted to help SMEs evaluate their maturity in sustainability, corporate social responsibility, and responsible entrepreneurship.
• A 35-hour e-training programme on sustainability, designed for SMEs, NGOs, and CSOs.
• A Toolkit on textile and fashion sustainability for trainers in civil society organisations and NGOs, aimed at influencing consumer behaviour and promoting sustainable fashion.
• A set of policy recommendations targeting local, national, and EU authorities to promote sustainable policies in the fashion sector.
• Five community building events, as well as one Ecofashion Fair, one multiplier event, two policy recommendation workshops, and networking meetings at national and EU level. 

EcoFashionEU directly contributed to the EU’s green transition by promoting environmental sustainability and social responsibility in the fashion sector and textile ecosystem. It supported SMEs in adopting slow fashion principles, improving resource efficiency and integrating sustainability into their operations.

The project aligned with the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles, and contributed to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 8, 12, 13, 14, and 17. Through its multi-actor approach, the project fostered collaboration among SMEs, NGOs, and local authorities, addressing key challenges such as overconsumption, waste generation, and consumer awareness, while promoting ethical production and responsible entrepreneurship.

The consortium included SMEs and NGOs with expertise in sustainable fashion, circular economy and community engagement.

This collaborative framework enabled extensive knowledge exchange and capacity building, strengthening the ability of the fashion industry to adapt to the challenges of the green transitions. The project’s outcomes continue to support the transformation of the sector, offering a replicable model for sustainability-driven innovation and cooperation across Europe.