Set to become the defining textile policy of 2025, the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) will introduce market-entry ecodesign requirements that mandate a significant increase in recycled textile fibers by 2028. Alongside ongoing work in the EcoDesign Forum, the Commission’s technical body is preparing ecodesign requirements and invited stakeholder feedback on its latest report. The T2T Alliance seized the opportunity to provide expert input on the development of ecodesign requirements for textile apparel through:

+ Promoting T2T recycled content and recyclability as core requirements in the ESPR ecodesign requirements for textiles

+ Supporting a closed-loop textile recycling approach which includes post-industrial, pre-consumer waste and post-consumer waste

+ Clarifying misconceptions about the textile recycling industry in the report (for example, by debunking the assumption that allowing post-industrial waste to fulfil recycled content targets would incentivise its overproduction)

+ Advocating for a wide range of verification methods for tracing recycled material.

“Textile waste is a growing challenge in Europe and beyond, with less than 1% of the textile fiber market coming from recycled textiles and the majority of end-of-life products currently ending up in landfills or being incinerated. The textile industry is now at a tipping point and we believe the EU and other actors can greatly influence the acceleration of circularity in the sector and empower textile-to-textile recycling as a future standard solution”, says Dennis Nobelius, CEO, Syre.

The T2T recycling industry requires urgent strategic intervention to ensure its long-term viability. Closing the loop in the textile industry, textile-to-textile recycling is an innovative process that involves converting used or waste textiles into new textile products. While the developments on the ESPR represent a momentous milestone, the direction that policy discussions are currently taking will have detrimental effects on the growth of T2T recyclers.

Even though the perspective of T2T recyclers is essential for effective policymaking, it has been underrepresented in policy discussions so far. The T2T Alliance is a force to provide policymakers with an understanding of the real-world impact of sustainability policies, holds them accountable and ensures textile circularity is a non-negotiable in EU policy. The group is facilitated by 2B Policy, a consultancy that supports businesses to navigate a regulated future by offering strategic guidance, compliance support and facilitating industry collaboration and association building. The T2T Alliance will act as a hub for advocacy, collaboration and joint action and ensure T2T recyclers’ interests are not just heard but embedded in future textile policies, in the EU and beyond.

The Alliance is committed to:

+ Advocating for textile-to-textile recyclers’ perspective in EU legislation and policies.

+ Supporting the development of new legal requirements mandating textile-to-textile recycled content and recyclability in new textile products in the context of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR).

+ Removing barriers that hinder the growth and scalability of the T2T industry.

"We applaud the EU for taking bold steps towards a more circular future, yet current proposals risk overlooking the practical realities faced by advanced textile recyclers. We can recycle challenging polycotton blends, but we need well-informed legislation to truly scale our impact. That's why we've come together under the T2T Alliance - to ensure policymakers harness our collective expertise and craft legislation that genuinely and significantly accelerates circularity rather than creating new barriers" says Peter Majeranowski, CEO, Circ

The formation of the T2T Alliance marks a significant milestone in the journey toward a truly circular textile economy. By uniting key stakeholders, the Alliance will advocate for textile-to-textile recyclers to receive the necessary recognition in the policy ecosystem and support policymakers in understanding the full impact on T2T recyclers and incorporating these insights into policies. "No single company can solve the textile waste crisis alone. True circularity will only be possible if policymakers, brands, and textile recyclers collaborate to remove barriers and build a system that prioritises textile-to-textile recycled content. At RE&UP, we work with partners across the supply chain to make Next-Gen recycled fibers a reality, but scaling this solution industry-wide requires a unified effort. By joining forces under the T2T Alliance, we’re ensuring that the voices of textile-to-textile recyclers are not just heard, but actively shape the policies that define the future of our industry." - Andreas Dorner, General Manager RE&UP

The founders welcome any other T2T recyclers interested in proactively shaping the policy landscape affecting their operations to reach out. © 2025