Focus on circular economy in functional textiles

Closing the loop means nothing is wasted, not even time, as recycled clothing gets recycled again and again. Despite all recycling ambitions, there are still challenges to make more efficient use of textile waste as a resource. Difficulties include the fact that production, consumers and disposal are far apart in a global world, there is a lack of expert knowledge from the other industries, and there is an absence of international standards or political support. With the new Focus Topic, the Performance Days have chosen a subject that not only affects their own industry. The textile industry has long been recycling its own waste for more efficient production, and it also recycles PET bottles, i.e. materials from outside the industry. In line with the topic, facts but also visions will be discussed in expert panels. The Performance Forum jury will choose a selection of recycled materials, such as PET bottles in yarns, recyclable mono-component materials or even blends, shirts that decompose to biomass in a cradle-to-cradle approach, etc., which will then be presented at the Performance Forum.