Green Deal Circular Textiles
The Amsterdam Metropolitan Area as a frontrunner in a fundamentally different, circular textile sector: that is the ambition of a large network of companies, governments and knowledge institutions in this region. Inspiring circular aesthetics and substantial scaling up of recycling are the focal points of the new vision.
The Amsterdam Metropolitan Area is a leading region in textiles and fashion. About a quarter of the Dutch textile industry has its home here, and jointly these companies provide some 10,000 direct jobs and another 10,000 indirect jobs. But the industry also has a downside: there are many social ills in the textile chain and the industry is among the top 3 most polluting industries in the world. The main reasons are CO2 emissions, water consumption and pollution, and waste production. Just in our region, some 36 million kilos of textiles are discarded annually, two-thirds of which end up in residual waste.
Please read these news articles on circular textiles.
What is Green Deal Circular Textiles
Green Deal Circular Textiles focuses on innovative ways to close the chain. The Green Deal is a consortium of companies, governments and knowledge institutions that have signed intentions for the transition to a circular economy. The partners are working on several initiatives. The Amsterdam Economic Board has taken a directing role in this. The ambitious goal: by 2030, the region’s textile sector will be 70 percent circular, and then become fully circular as soon as possible. Are your employees already wearing circular corporate clothing?
What we are working on in 2023
In 2023, the focus is on strengthening the ecosystem and the foundation for building and scaling up circular activities. With the regional vision for circular textiles, the specific pathway for this region becomes clear, needed to scale up and accelerate. We are focusing on two themes: using circular aesthetics to inspire others and scaling up high-quality recycling.
With partners, we support (new) regional consortia around recycling non-reusable textiles and circular aesthetics; and build valuable collaborations that contribute to the same goal and ecosystem.
Do you see opportunities and would you like to participate? Please contact Claire Teurlings.
Are you already wearing circular corporate clothing?
To several members of our Network Council circular textiles are so important that they have incorporated it in their own organisations. Their employees are dressed in circular workwear. This is neither very complicated, nor costly. Read about the experiences of KPN and Shell, for example. And check out the quickstart with tips on how to implement circular workwear in your organisation.
AM | Province of Noord-Holland | Ahold Delhaize | OLVG | KLM | KPN | Municipality of Amstelveen | Patagonia | Reade | Meerlanden | Royal Flora Holland | Vattenfall | ABN AMRO | BAM | Technische Unie | Renewi | Shell | Pantar | Alliander | Tata Steel
Employees of these Network Council members (and/or their facility partners, such as canteen staff or security guards) already wear circular clothing. Should your organisation be on this list as well? Let us know through our contacts!
This is how our partners are working on circular textiles
Watch short videos (in Dutch), featuring partners such as Ellen Mensink (Brightloops and Loop.a.life), Marten Boels (Metropoolregio Amsterdam), Hans Bon (Wieland Textiles and Textiles2Textiles), Borre Akkersdijk (BYBORRE) and Judith Kolen (Hotel Casa).
Building a Circular Future
Jacqueline Cramer – formerly a member of our Board – has set up and nurtured numerous circular initiatives in the Netherlands such as mattresses, diapers, biomass and circular construction and demolition materials. In her books, Cramer advocates the power of network management; by creating structure in the collaboration with roles and responsibilities between frontrunners within companies, knowledge institutions, governments, civil society organisations and citizens’ initiatives.
Download Jacqueline Cramer’s publications for free.
Invitation to collaborate
Would you also like to contribute to circular textiles? Then please contact Claire Teurlings, Lead Circular Economy.
Partners
- ABN AMRO
- Alcon Advies
- AMFI
- Amsterdam Economic Board
- Amsterdam Fashion Academy
- Amsterdam Transition Institute
- BMA Techne
- Brightfiber Textiles B.V.
- Brightloops in collaboration with EU Spinners
- ByBorre
- CleanBridge
- CleanLease
- Cordaan
- DenimDeal partners
- EK
- Gemeente Amsterdam
- Hogeschool van Amsterdam
- House of Skills
- InHolland
- King Louie
- Kings of indigo
- Koplopersgroep Circulaire Hotels
- Loop.a Life
- Makers Unite
- Meesteropleiding Coupeur
- MUD Jeans
- N.I.O
- OLVG
- Patagonia
- PwC
- Reade
- Reblend
- Reflow
- ROC van Amsterdam
- ROC van Flevoland
- ROM InWest
- State of Art
- Studio Jux
- TenCate
- Textiles2Textiles B.V.
- Upset Textiles
- Waag Textile Lab
- Waternet
- Wieland Textiles
