Historic Textile Recycling Fair in Brussels: Opening Doors to Industry Transformation

The inaugural Textile Recycling Fair was held in Brussels on June 4–5, 2025, marking a turning point for the sector with 126 participants from 67 countries and 3,336 visitors. The event began with opening remarks by Aurel Ciobanu‑Dordea, Director of the European Commission’s Circular Economy Directorate, bringing together waste management giants, recycling firms, producers, and retail brands. Around 12% of attendees came from Africa, Asia, and the Americas, while sustainability experts from over 20 global brands such as Aldi, Burberry, Chanel, H&M, IKEA, Nike, and Zara played active roles at the fair. Innovative textile sorting technologies developed by companies like Valvan and NewRetex were showcased. Over the two-day event, more than 50 expert speakers discussed recycling technologies and related projects. Ciobanu‑Dordea praised the energy of the fair and the impressive technologies on display, noting that the sector’s transformation momentum has become tangible. The fair laid a solid foundation for the future of textile recycling and provided an important platform for advancing the circular economy.