The Future of Earth and Biodiversity Week
Thinking the future of textiles - exploring together the potential for circularity and innovation
European Union
Fashion adds colour and life to our daily experiences. But have you ever considered the impact a single garment can have on the global environment?
This programme focuses on the environmental challenges facing the glamorous fashion industry and explores pathways to transform the textile sector into a more sustainable and environmentally friendly industry.
Part 1: High-level discussion
“Weaving a more sustainable future: innovations in textiles"
Part 2: Panel discussion
"The Environmental Cost of Textiles”
Recorded video available
Discussion
- Circular economy
| Transmission of simultaneous interpretation | To be determined |
|---|---|
| Language of interpretation | To be determined |
-
Track Programme
- Time and
Date of
the event -
-
2025.09.22[Mon]
10:30 ～ 12:15
(Venue Open 10:00)
-
- Venue
- Pavilion
- Poland Pavilion
Programme details
*Subtitles: Choose “Subtitles/CC” in the “Settings” (gear icon) at the bottom right of the YouTube video.
*Subtitles may not show with multiple languages or overlapping audio.
The textile sector is a vital part of our lives. The sector is not only vital to economies and cultures, it is also a significant contributor to environmental challenges such as waste, pollution and resource depletion. This event will be an opportunity for various actors (manufacturers, policymakers, designers, sustainability advocates, etc.) to share insights about forward thinking solutions that will help reimagine the future of textiles and build a more circular sector.
Reports
【Reflection】
Overview
The session addressed the textile sector’s environmental footprint and explored pathways to circularity and innovation. It combined a high-level discussion on innovation trends with a panel explicitly focused on “The Environmental Cost of Textiles.”
Key findings
Clarity of issues.
By foregrounding resource use, waste and pollution associated with a single garment, the programme framed a shared understanding of the sector’s environmental challenges and how to account for them.
Direction of change.
The discussion stressed linking product design (durability, repairability, recyclability), material innovation (secondary and alternative fibres) and operations (collection, sorting, recycling) as one system.
From awareness to action.
Handling both the diagnosis and possible pathways within one agenda helped move participants from shared awareness to implementation readiness—notably around measurement, material choices and engagement with take-back/recycling schemes.
Conclusion
The session squarely addressed the environmental cost of textiles and served as a forum to share directions for innovation and impact accounting needed to make the textile industry more sustainable.
【Post EXPO Initiatives】
Implementation focus
Grounded in the session’s agenda, the following actions translate discussion into practice:
Assessment & disclosure:
start product-level impact visibility across key lines and circulate the insights internally.
Design review:
re-check requirements for durability, repairability and recyclability and prioritise design improvements.
Material pilots:
initiate trials with secondary/alternative fibres and evaluate performance, quality and supply viability.
Engage take-back/recycling:
map options to join or strengthen collection–sorting–recycling schemes and set internal roles/data flows.
External communication:
share a concise direction of travel on metrics, design policy and participation in take-back initiatives.
Conclusion
With near-term impact visibility, design checks and targeted pilots, organisations can progress from dialogue to implementation.
Cast
Moderator
Claire Downey
CEO of the Rediscovery Centre
Claire has been an integral part of the Rediscovery Centre team since 2021 as Policy & Research Director, leading groundbreaking circular economy research and driving education initiatives in Ireland and beyond.
Appointed Chief Executive of the Rediscovery Centre in 2025, Claire brings over 20 years of experience in the sector to this role and is a dedicated advocate for circular living.
Claire sits on the National Waste Advisory Group, the National Textiles Advisory Group, the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Network Platform, RREUSE network and Right to Repair campaigns. She is a fellow with the Chartered Institute of Waste Management and a board member of Green Foundation Ireland.
View Profile
Close
close
Speakers
Jessika Roswall
Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, European Commission
View Profile
Close
close
Kenji Higashi
Executive Vice-President, Spiber Inc.
With a background in biotechnology, Kenji has spent over a decade bringing biomaterials innovation to life. Since 2013, he has been driving Spiber Inc.'s business development and sustainability initiatives, focusing on projects that aim to build a more circular and sustainable society. Based in France, Kenji also serves as President of Spiber's Europe branch, overseeing regional operations.
View Profile
Close
close
Dounia Wone
Chief Impact Officer, Vestiaire Collective
Dounia is the Chief Impact Officer at Vestiaire Collective where she has worked for nearly 5 years.
Dounia is responsible for impact partnerships with stakeholders and externally facing company engagement, educating the public and decision-makers on circularity and how the resale platform can aid better consumption habits. She is an active speaker and panellist at the Bloomberg Green Festival and ChangeNOW industry events.
Recognition is given to Dounia for contributing to the promotion and adoption of circular business models in the luxury fashion sector.
View Profile
Close
close
Maria Nikolopoulou
Member of Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform and EESC, European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
Maria Nikolopoulou is a member of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) from the Workers' Group, representing the Spanish trade union Comisiones Obreras. She is currently one of the Vice Presidents of the NAT Bureau and member of the Steering Group of the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform.
View Profile
Close
close
Maria Vera Duran
Senior Technical Manager, EuRIC
Maria VERA DURAN joined EuRIC in July 2021. With a background in Chemical Engineering and an MBA from the University of Malaga (Spain), she previously worked as a project coordinator at the University of Malaga for nearly five years, contributing to projects on managerial excellence and internationalisation.
At EuRIC, Maria is responsible for the European Plastics Recycling Branch (EPRB), as well as for managing all technical and regulatory issues for the recycling industry, including the new Circular Economy Act.
View Profile
Close
close
The Future of Earth and Biodiversity Week
Thinking the future of textiles - exploring together the potential for circularity and innovation
Fashion adds colour and life to our daily experiences. But have you ever considered the impact a single garment can have on the global environment?
This programme focuses on the environmental challenges facing the glamorous fashion industry and explores pathways to transform the textile sector into a more sustainable and environmentally friendly industry.
Part 1: High-level discussion
“Weaving a more sustainable future: innovations in textiles"
Part 2: Panel discussion
"The Environmental Cost of Textiles”
-
2025.09.22[Mon]
10:30～12:15
(Venue Open 10:00)
- Pavilion
- * Programme times and content are subject to change. Any changes will be announced on this website and via the ticket booking system.
- * The schedule is subject to change depending on the organiser's circumstances.
OTHER PROGRAM
The Future of Earth and Biodiversity Week
