100% circular by 2030
A bit better is not good enough. That’s why our goal by 2030 is zero waste – from the raw material to the finished product. We want to close the ecological loop in the functional textile sector. With our recyclable PES Sympatex membrane, which has been completely climate neutral since 2017, we are laying the ideal foundations to achieve our goal of closing the loop.
Our journey to being 100% circular:
- As of 2020, all of our business units offer laminates made from closed-loop recycled materials.
- By 2025, 50% of the raw materials for our functional laminates will originate from the closed textile loop and be recyclable.
- By 2030, we will only offer products made from closed-loop materials.
Our closing-the-loop projects
We don’t just want to optimise our own products, we also want to help create a circular infrastructure throughout the entire textile industry. That’s why we are involved in various industry-wide projects.
Sympatex is a co-founder and partner of wear2wear. For this innovative partnership, we joined forces with expert companies in Europe with the aim of producing new textiles from used clothing. Every company contributes to a specific phase of the textile recycling process in order to cover the entire recycling loop. Depending on the area of application, new textiles are created that meet high requirements and can be recycled again at the end of their life cycle. With wear2wear we have achieved a proof of concept, a milestone that clearly proves the feasibility of circular textile manufacturing. With this concept, we see great potential for sustainable textile procurement, especially for closed systems, such as the secure recycling of uniforms (e.g. police and postal services). https://www.wear2wear.org/en/
Sympatex is involved in the project Accelerating Circularity Europe, which was set up to accelerate the transition from linear to circular production in the textile industry. The project aims to reduce the millions of tonnes of textile waste that is sent to landfill every year by using the resources embedded in existing textiles for new products. Alongside this, the project also focuses on reducing the greenhouse gas emissions and microplastics produced by this sector. Sympatex uses its knowledge and experience to help develop solutions and make connections that are vital for the entire circular textile supply chain.
Political engagement
Following the EU Green Deal and the German government’s increased sustainability efforts, the topic of a circular economy has finally gained political relevance. For example, it is incorporated in the Waste Framework Directive, the Circular Economy Act (KrWG) and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). Within this context, Sympatex positions itself as a driver of social change and calls for strict regulations and the promotion of a consistent circular economy at a political level.
As part of this, Sympatex participates in various working groups and initiatives, such as the EU Policy Hub. As a voice to the EU Commission, the Policy Hub unites the clothing and footwear industry with the aim of creating an ambitious political framework that accelerates the sector’s transition to a circular economy.
In addition to a circular economy, various other textile-related topics are also currently being driven forward by the European Commission. Sympatex actively participates in the development of these legislative proposals. Through this cooperation, every day we get closer to achieving our goal of systematic change in the textile industry towards greater sustainability.
In addition to the topic of the circular economy, various textile-related topics are currently being promoted by the European Commission. Sympatex is actively involved in the development of these legislative projects. Through this collaboration, we are moving closer every day to our goal of a systemic change in the textile industry towards greater sustainability.