The future of the European textile industry
is being shaped right now by ambitious policies and regulations - think Ecodesign,
Green Claims, Due Dilligence, Extended Producer Responsability, and mandatory
textile collection. These initiatives aim to drive circularity,
but also raise critical questions. Join us in Bratislava for an event that
tackles this challenge head-on. Our central theme:
Is the future of textiles circular?
You'll hear directly from experts connected to the European Commission about the
latest political thinking, discover technologies that can accelerate circularity
and gain fresh perspectives from industrial leaders and innovators.
This is your chance to engage in meaningful dialogue, exchange your views,
learn new ideas, and shape the future of textiles together.
Don't miss it, be part of the conversation that matters.
Meet the speakers
We are pleased to announce our distinguished lineup of speakers who will share their insights and expertise on the future of textiles and circular economy.
Is the future of Textiles Circular?
We are pleased to announce Dirk Vantyghem as our keynote speaker.
As General Manager of Euratex, the European Apparel and Textile Confederation,
Dirk has a front row seat to the latest developments within the
European Commission concerning the textile and clothing industry.
Euratex plays a crucial role in balancing European legislation with
Industrial priorities and advocates for the interest of Europe's textile and
clothing companies.
Dirk is uniquely positioned to shed light on what Europe is preparing for our
industry. He will provide valuable insights how the
European Commission envisions the future of textiles and clothing and
whether that future is circular. It is also an excellent opportunity to
voice your concerns about the future.
Does REACH help us in closing the circle?
Meet Stijn Steuperaert, our guide through the REACH Maze.
We are thrilled to welcome Stijn Steuperaert from Centexbel,
a leading expert on REACH legislation.
REACH is one of the most demanding regulation in the textile and
clothing industry - and plays a critical role in closing the loop,
especially when waste becomes new material (End-of-waste).
Stijn will share eye-opening insights from his analysis of fast fashion
products currently on the market.
Curious about what he uncovered?
Take a look at this alarming report and explore more on the Centexbel website.
Meet Stijn in Bratislava and learn how REACH impacts circularity
and what it matters for your business.
Cross-Sector challenges in Circularity: A view from Volkswagen
The textile industry isn't the only one facing big challenges - automotive is evolving fast too. With EU initiatives like the Digital Vehicle Passport and Digital Battery Passport, the sector is reshaping its future. And as a major user of textiles, the link between both industries is stronger than ever. We are excited to welcome Dr. Thomas Kersten (Volkswagen) to our conference "Is the future of textiles circular?". He'll share insights from the automotive world and how it's tacking circularity challenges. A great chance to learn, connect, and explore new perspectives!
Towards circular textile waste management
End-of-Life (EoL) carbon footprint analysis of the EU textile industry and EPR schemes in Belgium, France and the Netherlands. Only around 1% of textiles are recycled into new products, making the shift to a circular textile economy more urgent than ever. EU initiatives such as the revised Waste Framework Directive and new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes aim to change how textile waste is managed across Europe and beyond. We are pleased to welcome Gabriele Casalino and Alexandra Neacsu to our conference “Is the future of textiles circular?”. They will share complementary economic and legal perspectives on the carbon footprint of textile End-of-Life processes and on how EPR schemes are being implemented in Belgium, France, and the Netherlands. A valuable opportunity to better understand policy, impacts, and challenges shaping circular textiles in the EU.
Are biopolymers part of the solution to become circular?
Biopolymers are polymers that are derived from renewable biological sources,
such as plants and microorganisms. They offer a promising alternative to
traditional petroleum-based polymers. However, their role in achieving a
fully circular textile industry depends on factors like production methods,
lifecycle impacts, and end-of-life options.
Prof. Ing. Pavel Alexy, head of the Department of Plastics, Rubber and Fibres
of the Institute of Natural and Synthetic Polymers, is well placed to discuss
the value of biopolymers in making the textile industry more circular.
He will share insights into the latest advancements in biopolymer research,
their applications in textiles, and the challenges and opportunities they present.
Biopolymers in Action - Nil Textile
Niltextile, a Czech company, has sustainability at the very core of its mission.
Its teams transform innovative ideas into market-ready circular textile products.
Beyond integrating biopolymers into fashion, NILTEXTILE is developing a fully
circular system in which materials remain in constant use—endlessly
recyclable without any loss of quality. For Niltextile, the future of
textiles is clearly circular.
We are pleased to welcome Ing. Mahalakshmi Subramanian
from NILTEXTILE to our conference, “Is the Future of Textiles Circular?”
In her presentation, she will share Niltextile's journey in integrating
biopolymers and other sustainable practices into their products,
as well as the challenges encountered along the way.
Digital Product Passport - a tool to make informed decisions
We are delighted to welcome our next keynote speaker comiong from Decathlon,
With deep practical expertise in the Digital Product Passport (DPP),
they will shed light on how transparency and traceability are reshaping product lifecycles.
Their session will explore the regulatory landscape, practical implementation,
and the strategic opportunities but also the challengesDPP creates for businesses.
Expect concrete insights, real-world examples, and a
forward-looking vision of how data-driven product systems will transform industries.
Join us to learn how organisations can prepare today for the upcoming European requirements.
Don't miss this opportunity to hear from one of the most influential companies.
A must-attend session for sustainability professionals, strategists, and innovators.
Be ready to rethink how products are designed, used, and reused.
This keynote promises to be one of the highlights of our conference.
Rehub - a major Industrial initative to drive fibre-to-fibre recycling
We are proud to welcome ReHubs, a leading European initiative driving circular transformation in the textile industry.
ReHubs is a synergy-driven alliance accelerating Europe's shift toward textile-to-textile
recycling and addressing growing textile waste challenges.
Their work tackles the critical supply-demand deadlock that limits the growth of
recycled fibres in Europe.
By uniting industry stakeholders across the textile value chain, ReHubs promotes
collaboration, innovation, and investment for a circular textile economy.
Their strategic roadmap aims to industrialise textile recycling by 2032, building scalable
infrastructure for collection, sorting, and processing.
ReHubs also fosters harmonised standards and cutting-edge recycling technologies,
ensuring quality and transparency across processes.
Their initiatives mobilise public-private investment to unlock Europe's circular textile potential.
This session will highlight concrete actions to convert textile waste into new value,
strengthening sustainability across the sector.
Join us to discover how ReHubs is reshaping Europe's textile landscape through
coordinated action and system-wide change.
A must-attend talk for anyone committed to circularity, innovation, and the future of
sustainable textiles.
Textile house - a key player in circular textile solutions
We are excited to welcome Textile House, one of Europe’s leading forces in textile
sorting and reuse. Founded in 1996, the company has grown into a major circular‑textile
player employing more than 1,800 people across Europe.
With a modern 16,000 m² sorting facility, Textile House processes around 20,000 tons of
textile each year, with a goal to double capacity.
Their skilled sorting process ensures that only 2% of materials become waste—an exceptional
efficiency level in textile recovery.
Textile House operates over 160 stores in 10 countries, bringing high‑quality
secondhand fashion to millions of customers annually.
In 2017 alone, they sold more than 20 million pieces of clothing,
significantly reducing environmental impact by saving vast amounts of water.
Their commitment to circularity makes Textile House a leader in reuse, recycling, and
sustainable consumption.
This company combines modern technology with data‑driven sorting to maximise
textile recovery and reuse.
Their network of secondhand and vintage stores helps reintegrate textiles
into the economy, extending their lifecycle responsibly.
Join us to discover how Textile House is shaping the future of sustainable fashion
across Europe.
Views of the SLovak Government
Goverments play a crucial role in shaping the textile industry's future,
especially regarding sustainability and circular economy practices.
We are honoured to welcome Mr. Adrian Grolmus, State Secretary of the
Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic, to our conference.
In his presentation, Mr. Grolmus will share insights into the Slovak
government's perspective on the textile industry's transition towards circularity.
He will discuss current policies, initiatives, and future plans aimed at promoting
sustainable practices within the textile sector.
This session offers a unique opportunity to understand how governmental actions
can influence industry standards and drive positive change.
Join us to hear Mr. Grolmus's views on the challenges and opportunities facing
the textile industry in Slovakia and beyond as it moves towards a more circular future.
Conference programme
Register here
- Date: 10th February 2026
- Time: 9:30 AM - 3:00 PM
- Location: Bratislava, Slovakia
- Venue: Lindner Hotel, Metodova 4, 821 08 Bratislava, Slovakia
- Language: English
- Registration Fee: 250€ (lunch and snacksincluded)
We are looking forward meeting you at this conference! Please use the registration form below to secure your spot.
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