Ahead of its live event in Brussels (4–5 June 2025), the Textiles Recycling Expo held a press conference at the Press Club Brussels this week, drawing support from major industry associations, sustainability advocates, and EU policymakers.
Speakers at the conference discussed both the urgent challenges and new opportunities shaping Europe’s transition to a circular textile economy. Event Manager Zied Chetoui commented: “With regulations rapidly evolving across Europe, the industry must innovate—and that’s precisely why the Textiles Recycling Expo was established.”
As highlighted by Materials Recycling World (MRW), the event comes at a time when the sector faces a significant “supply crisis” in post-consumer textiles. Ecotextile News reported that Robert van der Kerkhof, CEO of ReHubs, described the Expo as a much-needed platform for networking, education, and investment. “It’s where policy leaders, brands, and innovators can come together to shape the future of textile-to-textile recycling,” he said.
The Brussels Times emphasized the industry’s pivotal moment, calling for a united strategy driven by collaboration, innovation, and regulatory alignment—values central to the Expo’s mission.
Julia Ettinger, Secretary General of EuRIC, stated: “The Expo arrives at a key moment. We must amplify the voices of Europe’s textile reuse and recycling sectors and build momentum for practical, impactful policies.”
Fedustria CEO Karla Basselier added: “While innovation is happening, the reality is that only a small portion of textiles are currently recycled. The Expo can help change that.”
Dirk Vantyghem, Director General of EURATEX, underlined the balancing act for the industry: “We represent an ecosystem of 200,000 companies generating €170 billion annually. The challenge is marrying sustainability with competitiveness.”
The Expo, widely covered by EcoTextile News, MRW, and The Brussels Times, is expected to be a landmark event for textile policy, recycling infrastructure, and innovation in Europe.
Admission is free. Visit www.textilesrecyclingexpo.com to register, explore the exhibitor list, and view the free conference program.
Watch the press conference: YouTube Link
