The European Commission has published the third edition of its "Report on Best Practices of the EU Textiles Ecosystem," cataloguing 10 case studies across seven member states: Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Romania.

What does the report cover?

The third edition frames the 10 practices as reference points for the EU textiles transition pathway. "These practices address multiple areas of the transition pathway," the report said. "They center on sustainable competitiveness, research and innovation, and infrastructure development, while also dealing with skills, governance and investment."

Industrial symbiosis features prominently. Italian firm Pulvera transforms textile production scraps into fibre-based composite materials for furniture and automotive applications — what the report calls evidence of how "industrial symbiosis can turn textile waste into new business opportunities."

United Repair Center in the Netherlands pairs scalable B2B garment repair with inclusive employment, creating skill-development pathways for workers facing labour-market barriers. "It shows how environmental and social objectives can be embedded in the same circular business model," the report noted.

How are pre-competitive emissions efforts structured?

The European Outdoor Group's Carbon Reduction Project brings European brands together around shared suppliers, providing facilities with technical support to measure emissions, develop reduction plans and implement concrete decarbonisation measures. The report described the initiative as proof of "the potential of pre-competitive collaboration to address emissions in global textile supply chains."

Cross-sectoral material recovery is shown through Dutch furniture manufacturer Planq and Danish firm Kvadrat Really, which transforms textile waste into table tops. The two companies have incorporated discarded textiles into durable surfaces, panels and furniture components. "These companies illustrate the potential for cross-sector collaboration to reduce reliance on virgin materials and create value from waste streams," the report stated.

Which firms anchor the Italian leather case?

Italian leather processors Sicit and Ilsa recover collagen-rich residues from tanning and convert them into bio-based products such as fertilisers and biostimulants, "creating value from materials that would otherwise be treated as waste," the report said.

Bulgarian textile manufacturer E. Miroglio has invested in modern technologies, certified materials, traceability systems, resource efficiency, lifecycle assessments and environmental monitoring to overhaul its production process.

What does the report say about digitalization?

Research institutes and companies including DITF Denkendorf in Germany, Danish fashion-tech startup Rodinia Generation and German microfactory OMIMAI have demonstrated how digitalization supports more local, flexible and on-demand manufacturing. The three entities connect digital design directly with production, shifting toward a "design-sell-make" model aimed at addressing overproduction and long supply chains.

Belgian technical textiles firm Sioen Industries anchors the resilience section. The vertically integrated company serves defence, maritime, energy and infrastructure sectors while pursuing circularity and traceability initiatives. In 2024, Sioen partnered with eco-design and end-of-life waste firm Resortec on workwear using heat-dissolvable sewing threads that simplify garment disassembly at end of life.

Romanian initiatives Humana People to People and Viitor Plus focus on consumer engagement through education, awareness campaigns and practical tools that encourage reuse, repair and responsible consumption.

What benchmark does the report set for sourcing teams?

Taken together, the Commission intends the report as both reference and inspiration for the European textiles value chain. "Taken together, these examples show how the transition of the textiles ecosystem is increasingly moving from ambition to implementation," the report said. "By highlighting these practices, the report aims to serve as both a reference and an inspiration for stakeholders across the textiles value chain, supporting knowledge-sharing and the replication of successful solutions."

For sourcing and compliance teams, the third edition positions the 10 cases as the Commission's working reference set under its textile transition pathway — a benchmark the agency says it wants stakeholders across the EU value chain to replicate.