Unlocking Opportunities for Circular Business Models in Textiles: Phasing out Linearity
Textile waste has gained global attention but comprehensive data remains scarce. To help bridge that gap, RREUSE has published a report on circular textile business models that examines the current state of textile repair, reuse, and recycling systems across the EU. The report brings crucial insights into the operational and financial challenges these systems face and explores how repair, reuse, and recycling business models for textiles can effectively be scaled.
A deep dive into circular textile business models
“Among the business models that we analyse, reuse is currently the only viable business model. We need to further strengthen reuse but given that quantity of textiles produced keeps increasing while quality is decreasing, it is clear that challenges related to textiles will keep growing for the foreseeable future. We therefore also need a big boost for repair and recycling. This report looks into how we can ensure that all three business models we examine are viable in the future,” said RREUSE’s Project and Policy Officer Marie-Jeanne Gaertner who authored the report.
Key findings highlight the paradox of the circular business models needing to address the shortcomings of traditional business models while competing in the same market. High initial costs and financial viability also present significant hurdles. We argue that scaling up circular models can disrupt the linear value chain and that their growth can further accelerate this disruption.
The report was produced as part of the Horizon project Circular and Sustainable Textiles and Clothing (CISUTAC). This project aims to address the main obstacles preventing the textile industry from embracing circularity. To that aim, RREUSE’s report outlines concrete policy recommendations and calls for collaboration among key stakeholders.
For questions, please contact Marie-Jeanne Gaertner, Project and Policy Officer ma*******************@rr****.org