In the words of Stientje van Veldhoven, State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management of the Netherlands: “Less waste, less pollution and a longer life span for our clothing: in a circular economy we can make this happen. The Netherlands’ circular textile market has a lot of potential, and to scale up we must seek international collaboration. In the Netherlands, we are aiming to have at least 30% recycled material in newly produced textile products in 2030. A circular economy can help us reduce carbon emissions and water usage as well as provide as much as 50.000 jobs.”
The transition to the circular economy requires systemic change and asks for collaboration, above all in the textile value chain that is so spread out over the world. Governments can set the ambition, boundary conditions and nurture experimentation. Researchers and knowledge institutes can develop new insights and tools, validate ideas and boost awareness. Global brands and retailers, especially after COVID-19, should realise that this is about resilience and about their future markets.
The Netherlands is at the forefront of sustainable and circular fashion research and entrepreneurship. The Dutch inhabit challenging terrain, a delta, where successive generations have worked hard to create a vibrant society in a densely populated and early-industrialised country. This environment made us innovative and collaborative: a living lab to pioneer solutions for global challenges.
Background information on Circular Textiles in the Netherlands
