At this year’s Dornbirn Global Fiber Congress (GFC), which is taking place from September 10-12 in Austria, member companies of the Brussels-headquartered ReHubs network will outline an industry-wide plan for rapidly scaling up textile-to-textile recycling in Europe to 2.5 million tons by 2030

“The textile and apparel industry stands at a critical crossroads,” says Robert van de Kerkhof, CEO of ReHubs. “With changes in legislation and rapid technological advances, we have a unique chance to implement systemic transformation that benefits the environment, the economy and society. ReHubs is proud to be leading this charge by uniting diverse stakeholders around a clear, actionable roadmap. Together, we can build a resilient, circular textile ecosystem that meets today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities.”

Since its inception, ReHubs has aimed to be a catalyst and engine for transforming Europe’s textile and apparel recycling landscape, bringing together key stakeholders to achieve ambitious circularity goals through aligned efforts in infrastructure, policy and finance.  

The industry is undergoing significant macro-economic shifts, including legislative changes such as the impact of the new Omnibus package and the upcoming EU Circular Economy Act expected in 2026, the rise of new technologies and evolving consumer and market dynamics. These changes are reshaping how textiles and apparel are produced, managed, recycled and sold to consumers across Europe.

A landmark development is the introduction of mandatory separate collection systems for used textiles across the European Union, effective January 1, 2025. This policy is expected to substantially increase the volume of used textiles collected, creating new opportunities and challenges across the value chain.

In response, ReHubs, leveraging its unique network of partners and associates including collectors and sorters, recyclers, technology and machinery providers, textile and apparel manufacturers, brands and retailers and investors from across the value chain, will unveil its industry-wide transformation plan. The plan will prioritise initiatives critical to success, define clear key performance indicators and provide a step-by-step pathway towards scaling up textile-to-textile recycling.

A dedicated ReHubs session will take place at Dornbirn 2025 on the afternoon of Wednesday 10^th September, with presentations from Spain’s Recover, French association Refashion, Australia’s Samsara Eco and Innovando of Italy. Many other related presentations have been woven into the programme of more than 100 presentations related to the twin themes of Work and Protective Wear/Defence and Carbon Stewardship.

www.rehubs.eu

www.dornbirn-gfc.com