On 26 June 2026, the Waste2Fashion consortium gathered in Brussels for the project’s 2nd Steering Committee, held immediately after the Textiles Recycling Expo (2425 June). The meeting represented an important milestone in the project’s first implementation phase, allowing partners to review progress, coordinate upcoming activities and prepare the launch of the project’s pilot actions across the Mediterranean.
From planning to implementation
A central focus of the meeting was the project’s pilot implementation component. Partners reviewed the results of the technical needs assessment carried out over the past months, which included questionnaires, bilateral meetings and country-specific analyses to identify the most appropriate technological solutions for each pilot.
This work is now being consolidated into a technical framework and a blueprint that will guide the implementation of the five national pilots while adapting to each country’s specific context and needs. During the discussions, partners validated the proposed approach and agreed that the blueprint should not only serve as a technical guide for implementation but also contribute to building a common narrative that demonstrates how the different pilot models complement one another within a Mediterranean circular textile value chain.
The Steering Committee also confirmed that, despite their different objectives and local realities, the pilots share common technical principles, including manual pre-sorting operations, the integration of appropriate sorting technologies and the need to balance technical performance with social impact, particularly through job creation and capacity building.
Designing pilots adapted to local realities
The meeting highlighted the diversity of approaches that Waste2Fashion will demonstrate across the Mediterranean. While some pilots focus on improving textile collection and sorting systems, others will prioritise reuse, upcycling or recycling according to local needs and existing ecosystems. Partners discussed the importance of adapting the technical solutions to each territorial context while maintaining a shared methodological framework. Particular attention was given to the Tunisian pilot, where discussions recognised the need to progressively build local capacities for post-consumer textile collection, drawing on the expertise available within the consortium.
The consortium also exchanged views on the different valorisation pathwaysreuse, repurposing, upcycling and recyclinghighlighting that each requires specific sorting criteria and technological solutions. Partners agreed that these complementary approaches will generate valuable technical knowledge and practical experience that can later be transferred to other Mediterranean territories.
Innovation from the Textiles Recycling Expo
Holding the Steering Committee immediately after the Textiles Recycling Expo provided partners with a valuable opportunity to explore the latest developments in textile recycling technologies.
The consortium reviewed a range of technological solutions for textile collection, sorting, traceability and recycling, exchanging views with technology providers and industry experts on their potential application within the project. These insights will support the preparation of the forthcoming procurement procedures and help ensure that each pilot builds on the most suitable and up-to-date technological solutions available.
The Expo also enabled partners to better understand current market trends and emerging innovations, strengthening the project’s capacity to deploy solutions that are both technically feasible and economically viable.
Looking ahead: the next phase of Waste2Fashion
Beyond the pilot activities, partners reviewed the progress of the remaining work packages and coordinated the next implementation steps. Discussions covered the forthcoming Eco-design Academy and Circular Acceleration Lab, which will support designers, entrepreneurs and circular economy professionals, as well as the project’s future capitalisation and policy uptake activities, aimed at ensuring that the knowledge generated through the pilots can be replicated beyond the project’s lifetime. The Steering Committee also reviewed the first reporting period and the communication work plan, reaffirming the importance of maintaining close coordination across all work packages as the project moves into its implementation phase.
Collaboration at the heart of the project
Beyond the formal meeting sessions, the exchanges throughout the two days reinforced mutual understanding, strengthened cooperation and demonstrated once again that collaboration, openness and knowledge sharing are essential drivers for the successful implementation of Waste2Fashion and its ambition to accelerate the transition towards circular textile systems across the Mediterranean.
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