Textile ETP, the European Technology Platform for the Future of Textiles and Clothing, has launched a new strategy outlining how Europe’s textile and apparel industry can move faster towards biobased and circular materials while strengthening its manufacturing sector.

The strategy states that Europe needs to reduce its dependence on fossil-based textile materials, which has increased over the past five decades, and build stronger local value chains for renewable fibres, bio-processing and circular production. It identifies sustainability, strategic resilience and competitiveness as three key factors driving this transition.

At the same time, the organisation believes developments in biomaterials and bioprocessing could create new opportunities for European manufacturers. These technologies could help companies compete through innovation, intellectual property and higher-value production.

“Europe’s textile bioeconomy is not only a sustainability opportunity, it is an industrial opportunity,” said Marina Crnoja-Cosic, president of Textile ETP. “Reversing decades of rising fossil dependence can strengthen competitiveness, resilience and strategic autonomy, while creating new industrial value and high-quality jobs.”