ISWA WGRWM Conference on Textiles
The ISWA Working Group on Recycling and Waste Minimisation is organisng a conference,on Textile Re-use and Recycling on May 6 and 7, 2024 in Finland.
Join the international experts of the WGWRM for the latest discussions on Textile Re-Use and Recycling!
The first full day of May 6th will be devoted to presentations and discussions on the current state of textile re-use and recycling, innovations in the industry, the policy context now as well as in the future, and of course what that will mean for all stakeholders. Make sure you are part of the future by being part of the discussion.
On the morning of May 7th, participants in the conference can choose either a study visit on textile collection, sorting and recycling that starts at 8 am (at an additional cost for the bus), and a half-day workshop on socially and environmentally sustainable export of textiles.
Please see below for the full programme both online and in downloadable PDF form.
Registration closes on April 26th 2024.
Agenda
(Subject to change. All times are GMT+3, Helsinki time)
08.00 – 08.30 Registration at AFRY
Block 1 | Opening, keynote and panel discussion
08.30 – 08.40 Welcome, Agenda for the day
Varpu Näsilä, AFRY, Representative to the WGRWM/FI
Anne Scheinberg, Chair WGRWM/NL
08.40 – 09.00 Keynote: Tying ourselves in knots: Challenges of the EC’s plans for sustainable textile management
Andreas Bartl, TU WIEN – ICEBE, former vice chair WGRWM/AT
09.00 – 10.00 Setting the Stage: The Current Situation with Recycling, Re-use and Waste Prevention of Textiles and Used Clothing in Finland (Panel discussion)
Chair: Varpu Näsilä, AFRY/FI
Anna Garton, Lounais-Suomen Jätehuolto Oy/FI
Emilia Gädda, Suomen Tekstiili & Muoti ry/FI
Kirsi Roine, Infinited Fiber Company Oy/FI
Hanniina Manner, Pääkaupunkiseudun Kierrätyskeskus/FI
Timo Huhtamäki, Emmy Clothing Company Oy/FI
10.00 – 10.15 Audience participation and discussion with the panel
10.15 – 10.45 Coffee and networking break
Block 2 | Textile recycling
10.45 – 12.15 Innovations in textile recycling
Chair: Andreas Bartl
Mechanical recycling of textiles, Elias Junker and Elina Pesonen – Laroche Andritz/FR-FI
(Bio)chemical processes for textile recycling, Emanuel Boschmeier – TU Wien/AT
Spinning of polymers derived from textiles, Hafiz Kaleem, CETI/FR
Discussion
12.15 – 13.15 Lunch break offered by AFRY
Tribute to Eija Koski, Finnish re-use and recycling pioneer Short films about Kierrätyskeskus and Eija Koski; Translated for this conference by Auli Kilpeläinen and Touku Leinonen, with comments by Juha Lehtikuja, Kierrätyskeskus
Block 3 | Storm Clouds Gathering: Emerging threats to private and charity waste prevention clothing and textile re-use value chains
13.15 – 13.35 Keynote: The functioning of the cascades in Europe, export to Africa & India
David Roman, British Heart Foundation/UK
13.35 – 13.55 Short presentation: What are “cascades”?
Anne Scheinberg, Chair WGRWM/NL
13.55 – 14.15 The realities of collection, trading, sorting, cascading and exporting of clothing and textiles in and from Italy
Pietro Luppi, Osservatorio del Riutilizzo/IT
14.15 – 14.35 The relevance of the higher r-strategies for increased circularity / reduced climate impacts of the EU textiles system
Evelien Dils, VITO/BE
14.35 – 14.55 Curse or blessing: benefits and costs of the export of used clothing from Europe and import of used clothing in East Africa, the view from the ground
Alodia Ishengoma, Springloop Cooperatie UA/TZ
14.55 – 15.15 Discussion
Chair Anne Scheinberg
15.15 – 15.40 Coffee and networking break
Block 4 | Storm Clouds Gathering: Emerging threats to private and charity waste prevention clothing and textile re-use value chains
15.40 – 15.55 Cycling of uniforms and professional clothing in Germany: the Reziprok experience in relation to proposals for EPR and take-back of textiles
Kim Hecht, Hohenstein Innovations GmbH/DE
Henning Friege, ReziProK/DE
(Recorded presentation)
15.55 – 16.10 Re-use of textiles in Finland, the critical contribution of clothing trades in second-hand shops
Emppu Nurminen, Nextiili ry/FI
Block 5 | Break-out groups
16.10 – 16.40 Break-out room 1: EU plans for producer responsibility (EPR) in the textile and clothing sector: threat or promise?
Varpu Näsilä, AFRY, Representative to the WGRWM/FI
Break-out room 2: Advice to the European Commission: How to move the textile sector towards the Circular Economy
Andreas Bartl, TU WIEN – ICEBE, former vice chair WGRWM/AT
Break-out room 3: Win-win directions for promoting and managing re-use and fair trade export of textiles in Europe/globally
Dirk Nelen or Evelien Dils, VITO/BE
Break-out room 4: Opportunities and best practices for extending the EPR toolbox for for maximized circularity of textiles
Anne Scheinberg, Chair WGRWM/NL
16.40 – 17.15 Short reports back from Break-out rooms Comments and questions
Anne Scheinberg, Chair WGRWM/NL
Block 5 | Closing
17.15 – 17.30 Closing words,
Varpu Näsilä, AFRY, Representative to the WGRWM/FI
19.30 – 22.00 Dinner
Place to be announced
Workshop on Responsible and Fair Export
08.30 – 09.00 Welcome: Detoxifying the idea of Fair Trade Used Clothing
Anne Scheinberg, Chair WGRWM/NL
09.00 – 09.50 Opening Presentation: Trading and export of clothing, from Europe and North America: waste prevention for cities, pillar of the European Circular Economy Goals, support system for charitable enterprises
Chair: Anne Scheinberg, Chair WGRWM/NL
David Roman, British Heart Foundation/UK
Pietro Luppi, Osservatorio del Riutilizzo/IT
Portia Sinnott, Northern California Recycling Association/US
09.50 – 10.10 The concept of Fair Trade Recycling — In first instance for electronics, is it also useful for clothing and textiles?
Pietro Luppi, Osservatorio del Riutilizzo/IT
10.10 – 10.30 Import of Used Clothing in Tanzania: livelihoods and quality clothing for Tanzanians — but also disposal
Alodia Ishengoma, Springloop Cooperatie UA/TZ
10.30 – 11.00 A fair, sustainable, climate-friendly and higher-R future for circular clothing and textiles in Europe: what is needed to make it happen?
Dirk Nelen or Evelien Dils, VITO/BE
11.00 – 11.40 Coffee and networking break
11.40 – 12.15 Can we take a position? Discussion and Workshop Closing
12.15 – 13.15 Lunch break offered by AFRY
08.00 Study visit on textile collection, sorting and recycling
Bus starting in Jaakonkatu 3, Vantaa (at an additional cost)
The excursion will head to:
- Emmy Clothing Company Oy – a leading Nordic online store for pre-owned designer and brand apparel for women, men and children.
- Infinited Fiber Company – a producer of Infinna™, a premium-quality, circular textile fiber that reduces the world’s reliance on virgin raw materials.
- Kierrätyskeskus Iso Omena – a secondhand shop for donated goods, located in Kieppi Second Hand Market, in one of the biggest shopping malls in Helsinki metropolitan area.
After the study visit the participants can choose to return by the bus back to the mini-conference venue in Vantaa (returning at around 1 pm), or continue responsible shopping at Kieppi on their own (there is a metro connection back to Helsinki city centre).
