
Learning from Sweden to make textiles climate-smart
Experts and companies from Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Sri Lanka and Tunisia visited Sweden’s innovations for sustainability and circularity through the textiles programme at the International Trade Centre (ITC).
Changing textile policies are forcing businesses to adapt quickly
In the coming years, manufacturers that would like to sell their products in the European Union (EU) will have to comply with tougher rules on sustainability, circularity and digitalization. Within the EU, more than a dozen legislative initiatives affect textile and clothing. Other major markets like the United States and United Kingdom are putting forward similar measures.
Globally, the textiles industry is one of the world’s biggest producers of greenhouse gas, pumping out 2.1 billion tonnes in 2018. That number will need to fall significantly to meet the climate targets set out in the Sustainable Development Goals – the world’s 17-point plan for improving human development by 2030.
Small businesses play an enormous role in textiles and clothing, especially in developing countries. These enterprises must comply with new requirements, but they may not know how. Even when they know what they need to do, they may not have the money or expertise to invest in the systems needed.
From 25 to 28 November 2024, ITC’s Global Textile Programme brought a delegation of textile experts from five countries to see how Sweden innovates in textiles to navigate the green and digital transition. The trip provided opportunities for building partnerships in Sweden for 40 textile experts from technical centres, academic institutions, industry associations, government authorities as well as companies from Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Sri Lanka and Tunisia.
How Sweden fosters research and development for textiles
The delegation visited the Textile Fashion Center in Borås, Sweden, a leader in research, development and innovation. Other on-site visits showcased leading key climate initiatives, including how to put into practice the principles of circularity, where production systems generate zero waste.
They also looked at other climate smart solutions. Large-scale industrial solutions improve textile recycling with automated sorting machines, AI technologies and high-value recycling solutions. Small-scale efforts include testing and rapid prototyping.
The last day in Stockholm facilitated interaction with Swedish policy makers and paved the way for cooperation between Sweden, the Middle East, North Africa and Sri Lanka.
About the programme
The Global Textiles and Clothing programme (GTEX) and its application in the Middle East-North Africa region (MENATEX) are financed by the Government of Sweden and the Government of Switzerland, and implemented in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia and Sri Lanka. GTEX MENATEX phase II aims to create higher-value jobs and foster a sustainable economy through the export of quality T&C products by providing crucial knowledge to help manufacturers navigate the sustainability and digitalisation transition and supporting establishing connections with other initiatives to address global challenges affecting the T&C sector.