Skills4Circularity project launched to boost textile industry skills

Skills4Circularity, a four-year project designed to reshape the sector’s professional skillset, has officially kicked off. The project held its first operational meeting on 25-26 November in Terrassa, Spain, hosted by the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC). The event brought together 21 partners from across Europe and Türkiye, including Textile ETP, marking the dynamic start of a forward-looking and highly strategic collaboration.

The textile ecosystem is experiencing a profound dual transformation: rapid digitalisation on one side and the growing urgency to adopt sustainable, fully circular production models on the other. To navigate this shift, the industry needs modern, future-proof skills that are accessible across the entire value chain. Skills4Circularity was created precisely to respond to this challenge, aiming to embed circular-economy principles and digital competencies into vocational education and training (VET) as well as higher education (HEI) pathways.

Over the next four years, the consortium will develop innovative training tools, methodologies, and learning programs tailored to the evolving needs of the sector. The Terrassa meeting provided partners with a valuable opportunity to refine objectives, align strategies, and set the first concrete steps in motion.

As part of a consortium, Textile ETP is leading the project’s visibility and awareness-raising campaign, promoting the importance of circularity in textiles and the development of sustainable skills across the sector. In parallel, Textile ETP drives EU-level policy dialogue to gather and analyse feedback on textile skills and training, contributing to the project’s Textile Skills Observatory.

To follow the project’s progress, visit the official website: https://skills4circularity.eu/