Is the Textile Circular Economy out of touch with reality?

‎Regularly, our Secretary General Lutz Walter shares his insights and knowledge through his blogposts, covering a wide range of topics related to textile sustainability and innovation. Follow his blog to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges that the textile industry is facing today.

"There is absolutely no way that textile-to-textile recycling will grow meaningfully over the next years, if the current comparative economics of virgin vs. recycled fibres persist."

In his latest blog post, our Secretary General Lutz Walter reflects on the progress — and challenges — of building a truly circular textile economy. While the vision of textile circularity has gained significant attention over the past decade, turning that vision into reality remains a complex task. Lutz Walter explores why large-scale textile-to-textile recycling is still difficult to achieve, highlighting the economic factors, policy gaps, and practical barriers that stand in the way. At the same time, he offers ideas for how smart policies, better incentives, and industry-wide collaboration could help move the sector closer to its circular goals.