The world is on the brink of a textile transformation. According to EU estimates, each European generates around 16 kg of textile waste per year, but only 4.4 kg is separately collected for reuse or recycling. The rest ends up in landfills, incinerators, or in cargo trucks heading to the Global South.
In the context of the climate crisis, resource depletion, and overproduction, the transition to a circular model in the textile industry is not an option — it’s a necessity.
The Manifesto on Textile Circularity by 2030
In March 2025, the European Recycling Industries Confederation (EuRIC) published a comprehensive Manifesto outlining 5 systemic solutions. This document can become a foundation for new policies in Ukraine, which seeks to integrate into the EU's Green Deal.
One of the main barriers to textile recycling is the design of clothing itself: complex compositions, additives, membranes, decorations, and multi-fiber blends (3–5 fibers) complicate or even prevent recycling.
EuRIC calls for mandatory ecodesign, including:
For Ukraine, this is both a challenge and an opportunity: collaboration with manufacturers, designers, and exporters is necessary to meet the requirements of the future EU market.
To develop a secondary market, it is necessary to define when waste ceases to be waste. This is called the End-of-Waste (EoW) status.
EuRIC proposes two approaches:
In Ukraine, the Law on Waste Management is already in effect, but specific End-of-Waste criteria have not yet been established. Their implementation would allow Ukrainian recyclers, like Re:inventex, to enter the EU internal market.
Principle: The waste producer should finance its recycling.
Starting in 2025, EPR is mandatory for EU countries. This means that manufacturers are responsible for the collection, sorting, and recycling of their products after use.
EuRIC insists on:
For Ukraine, this is an opportunity to create an EPR system with support for collection and recycling infrastructure.
Regulating chemicals in textiles is a complex and crucial issue. New restrictions under REACH could ban the use of certain materials, even in already manufactured garments.
EuRIC calls for a balanced approach:
This is critically important for Ukrainian companies that are already oriented towards export and compliance with EU standards.
Soon, the EU will introduce a Digital Product Passport (DPP) — a source of data on:
EuRIC emphasizes:
Ukrainian companies should start adapting to these requirements now to maintain a competitive position in the European market.
EuRIC has created a clear framework that is already being implemented in EU policy.
For Ukraine, this is a guideline for:
As a company working in responsible textile recycling in Ukraine, we at Re:inventex support these European priorities.
We prove every day that a circular economy is not the future, but the reality, already creating jobs, innovation, and positioning Ukraine as a leader in the global green transition.
