ToMakers was honorably selected to provides expert network support to ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability for the EU SWITCH Asia program under the project "Transitions to circular economy practices in textile and apparel Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises(MSMEs) along the lifecycle in Huzhou and Shaoxing".

Project background

The textile and apparel industry, known as one of the world's leading polluters, shoulders  significant responsibility to environmental deterioration due to industry-specific wastewater production and energy consumption, causing high carbon dioxide emissions and critical disruption of the ecological balance.

As the world's primary producer, consumer, and exporter in the textile industry, China has acknowledged the imperative role of a circular economy within the entirety of the textile supply chain.

China's textile and apparel industry started with modest technology and relatively limited capital investment. Yet leveraged by its lower labor cost and established cluster eco-system, China was able to secure its market shares in the international marketplace. However, with the expansion of the in-market textile industry, critical issues including heightened energy consumption, escalating waste disposal costs, and exacerbated water pollution followed. These challenges have significantly impacted the sustainable progress of industry practitioners particularly Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the cluster.

The concept and increasing commitment to circular economy have compelled the Chinese textile industry to strike a balance between economic advantages and social impacts. This shift emphasizes resource conservation, environmental preservation, and sustainable development, aiming to facilitate the MSMEs to transform into sustainable profitability. 

Project Title

Transitions to circular economy practices in textile and apparel MSMEs along the lifecycle in Huzhou and Shaoxing

Sectors

Textiles and Leather

SDGs

Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production

Goal 13: Climate action

Lead project partner

China National Institute of Standardization (CNIS)

Supporting project partners

China Textile Development Center (CTDC)

ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability

Regional Activity Centre for Sustainable Consumption and Production (ARC - SCP/RAC)

Objectives

Facilitate the transition to circular economy practices in the textile and fashion industry in Huzhou City and Shaoxing City, China, by 2025. The specific objectives include:

• Improved sustainable management, resource efficiency and adoption of circular economy principles by the local textile and fashion industry;

• Conditions enabled for a conducive policy environment among key stakeholders for circular textile industry in Huzhou and Shaoxing;

• Increased access of textile and apparel industry to financing for eco-design, recycling investments and clean technology transfer.

The Way Forward

• Sustainable management, resource efficiency and adoption of circular economy principles will be improved by the local textile and fashion industry;

• Capacities of the textile and apparel industry for the promotion and implementation of resource efficiency measures will be enhanced within selected textile and apparel value chains;

• Capacities of MSMEs will be enhanced to develop and apply circular economy solutions in the textile and apparel value chains;

• Enabled conditions will be built for a conducive policy environment among key stakeholders for circular textile industry in Huzhou and Shaoxing

• Policy instruments and incentives will be developed by local governments and sector stakeholders mainstreaming CE in the textile and fashion industry;

• More access of textile and apparel industry will be increased to financing for eco-design, recycling investments and clean technology transfer;

• Capacities of the textile and apparel industry will be enhanced to access to funding for circular economy.

Source: https://switch-asia.eu/project/transitions-to-circular-economy-practices-in-textile-and-apparel-msmes-along-the-lifecycle-in-huzhou-and-shaoxing/