ECHT

Inspiration

The Green Deal transition towards a climate-neutral, resource-preserving and non-toxic circular economy (CE) creates new challenges for businesses. The EU Textiles Strategy aims to tackle high waste generation and low recycling rates, as well as negative environmental and social impacts throughout the whole life-cycle.

As such, textile apparel will become one of the first product groups to be subjected to sustainable product policies (Ecodesign incl. Digital Product Passport). These policies imply value chain actors having access to detailed product information, including material compositions, since the trustworthy traceability of chemicals along supply chains is one central enabler for a non-toxic, resource-efficient and climate-neutral circular economy.

Knowledge of material composition allows (eco-)design, informed procurement and purchasing decisions, and improved recycling processes, thus minimizing risks from chemicals for health and the environment during the use phase and after the end of life. Volatility, complexity and established supply chain structures, however, make it difficult for companies to work together and trace the chemicals in their products.

Innovation

ECHT develops and implements the first traceability strategy with three action plans for actors in the textile industry: clothing, flooring value chains and policymakers at different levels. The action plans will draw on the learning from innovative training schemes (capacity-building). The results of these training schemes and the insights gained from developing, testing and disseminating practical solutions will be upscaled into a knowledge platform, which will support SMEs in the textile industry and other sectors, moving them from “beyond pure compliance” towards innovative business models.

Impact

The project develops several key outputs, including the development of a transnational traceability strategy and action plans for textile clothing, flooring and policy. It also includes training schemes aimed at fostering knowledge and creating a shared, actionable understanding of how to implement traceability throughout textile supply chains. Additionally, a knowledge platform will be developed to serve as an entry point for companies to learn about Digital Product Passports (DPP), build capacity and overcome impediments to implementing traceability.

ECHT will also conduct two pilot actions: one with eight actors from the textile clothing sector who will test the knowledge platform and its features, and another with eight organizations from various sectors (such as flooring, construction and leather), selected based on their traceability maturity, to assess the platform's applicability to different maturity levels.