A new European Textile Strategy

Dirk Vantyghem, Director General EURATEX

Ekoteks Symposium – 29 September 2021

About EURATEX

European T&C industry

EU Policy makers

160,000 companies

€ 162 billion turnover

1,5 million employees

€ 61 billion exports

EURATEX Full Members – National Associations

European textiles…a double challenge

Covid 19

• Shifts in demand (some - but some +)

• Supply chain and price disruptions

• E commerce

• Reshoring (?)

• Increased “awareness” of textiles

EU ambitions

• Green Deal / Circular Economy Action Plan

• Fit for 55 (decarbonisation)

• Pact for Skills

• Sustainable and Digital transition

Short-term indicators: Economic confidence

Confidence Indicator by Ecosystem – 2020-2021, monthly.

Source: European Commission analysis based on data by the Joint Harmonised EU Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys. Note: For “Retail”, “Agri-food”, “Proximity, Social Economy and Civil Security”, “Energy-Renewables”, and “Health”, data coverage is partial, so they are depicted using dotted lines and the related values have to be interpreted with caution. Data for Cultural and Creative Industries may underestimate the impact of the crisis, as data for some relevant sectors are not available.

Impact of Covid19

EU Sustainable Textile Strategy

Part of the Circular Economy Action Plan

Focus on green transition

On line consultation open (deadline 5 August)

EC Communication by

December 2021

New EU Industrial Strategy

14 Ecosystems identified, including textiles

Focus on resilience and competitiveness

Developing a

“transition pathway”

Adoption of ecosystem

plans by 2022

Focus on Textiles

EURATEX Response

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Adopt coherent and harmonised standards and requirements for sustainable textiles

Develop realistic business models for sustainability

Develop sufficient recycling capacity in Europe

Authorities choosing sustainable textiles

(green public procurement)

Consumers choosing sustainable textiles

(stimulate consumer behaviour)

EURATEX Response

Stre

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of

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Invest in digitalisation of the T&C supply chain

Develop new green and digital skills

More textiles innovation and research support through EU programmes

Support start ups in T&C industry

Reduce dependancy on extra-EU raw materials and improve energy efficiency

EURATEX Response

Incr

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Install more effective market surveillance

Develop multilalteral rules to ensure level playing field

A strategic regional agenda: US, Mercosur, Africa,...

Promote reshoring within the PEM region & modernise EU-Turkey Customs Union

Support T&C SMEs to access new markets (economic diplomacy)

EURATEX Response

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Thank You