The textile industry needs to innovate for the sake of the industry and its people, the healthcare sector and the environment. 

It can create clothes that monitor health conditions and measure body movements, as well as technologies that recycle/reuse textile fibres.

Since its creation in 2006, Smart Textiles has developed over 500 research/business projects. Visit its Showroom to find out about new materials/prototypes/products, or its Technology Lab at the University of Borås, where technological advances are achieved thanks to inter-disciplinary cooperation.

The circular project Re:textile has launched the F/ACT Movement, focusing on new sustainable choices without sacrificing the passion for clothing and fashion. 

Circular economy marketplaces for reuse and recycling of products exist. The USOdy platform claims outstanding results with respect to its primary objective, the reuse and recycling of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), by contributing to the increase of the reuse of administration’s EEE from 5 % up to potentially 50 %.

Going beyond, the practice also enables vulnerable users and groups to get access to refurbished equipment at an affordable price, which contributes to reducing the overall digital divide in the society and creates jobs at refurbishing organisations for vulnerable persons. The practice is transferable to any region: all necessary resources (code, methodologies…) are available as free software.

Click here for more info.

Launched in November 2019, Sporos aims to become the first platform for impact investment and collaboration that adds value to SMEs in Greece and Southeastern Europe, on the basis of the Circular Economy.

Sporos utilises mezzanine sustainable financing tools, combined with consultancy services and environmental, social and governance (ESG) and sustainable development goal (SDG) metrics.

The One Planet Network is a platform that assembles information about the state of play in sectors that are particularly relevant to the circular economy and need assistance developing tools and policies to reduce waste and improve sustainability.

It aims to implement the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production, focusing on SDG12. The network consists of stakeholders generating collective impact in public procurement, building and construction, tourism, food systems, consumer information and lifestyles and education.

Countries, stakeholders and organisations are invited to join and participate. The One Planet Network's strategy runs from 2018 to 2022 and was initiated by the UN's Environment Programme.