Textile ETP participates in the first Circular Rooms Conference in Düsseldorf
On 27 March 2025, Textile ETP Secretary General, Lutz Walter, attended the first-ever Circular Rooms Conference in Düsseldorf, Germany, an event connecting European textile and fashion businesses with innovators in digital solutions for sustainability and circularity. Organised by Igedo Company and led by Andreas Schneider from our member Global Textile Scheme, and Dr. Monika Hauck from Repair Rebels, the event brought together top-level speakers from across the fashion, retail, and second-hand value chain.
The conference highlighted several key themes relevant to the future of textiles and fashion. Sustainability in textiles and fashion continues to be a central focus, influenced by regulations, evolving consumer expectations, and new business models. Companies are expected to adapt to upcoming regulations and circular economy principles, which will reshape industry practices. The exchange of data across the entire value chain, including the post-consumer stage, is increasingly recognised as a fundamental requirement for operational efficiency. Digital Product Passports are being developed to facilitate transparency and traceability in the supply chain. While they are a compliance requirement, they also offer potential benefits such as improved consumer communication and enhanced product lifecycle management. A structured data strategy, supported at the executive level, is essential for successful value chain digitalisation. Additionally, new business models are emerging in the consumer and post-consumer phases, including resale, professional repair services, and collaborations with second-hand businesses, which could contribute to industry growth.
When taking the floor, Lutz shared key insights on the ‘Textiles of the Future’ European Partnership, a Horizon Europe initiative co-managed by Textile ETP, designed to harness digital innovations and new business models to reinforce Europe’s leadership in sustainable textiles. With up to €60 million in investment from 2025 to 2030, the partnership aims to drive environmentally friendly, resource-efficient, and cost-competitive production practices across the industry. In addition to discussing the European Partnership, Lutz introduced our DigitX Innovation Hub, our EU wide-learning and networking programme on the key topics related to the digitalisation of the textile sector, ranging from AI-driven design to digital product passport.
We extend our gratitude to the organisers and all participants who contributed to making this event a success, and look forward to the next edition scheduled for 9 September 9, in Düsseldorf.
