The Netherlands presents itself to Europe at Techtextil with leading circular innovations
Europe must be fully circular by 2050. The Netherlands is at the forefront of circular textiles and new technology and will therefore have its own pavilion and program for the first time at the prestigious Techtextil trade fair, which will be held in Frankfurt from April 21 to 24. The delegation consists of a group of leading Dutch innovative textile companies, industry organization Modint, Circular Textile Days, and Action Plan Circular Textiles (a program of CLICKNL).
The theme of the mission: “NL Circular Textile Solutions, Ready for Europe.” The goal: faster upscaling.
The market value of the textile, clothing, leather, and footwear industry (TCLF) is around €24 billion, corresponding to around 2.4% of Dutch income. The transition to a more circular and digitally driven sector is therefore an important link in the social earning capacity of the Netherlands in the future.
For circular textiles and digital innovations, go to the Netherlands
With a number of frontrunners in this field, there are serious opportunities for both the sector and the Netherlands. On the one hand, by driving international trade, and on the other, by further scaling up Dutch innovations abroad. Think of the unique fiber-to-fiber recycling technology of scale-up SaXcell, or the PFAS-free finish from Lamoral Coating that retains its performance no matter how often you wash it. And in the field of digitization, the company tex.tracer is replacing manual tracking with an automated, data-driven platform that guarantees real-time traceability of clothing. These three companies will be present at the country pavilion, among others.
In order to capitalize on the opportunities for the Dutch textile sector, it is important that both innovative textile companies and the Netherlands are strategically and structurally put on the map in Europe. “For circular textiles and digital innovations, go to the Netherlands” – that is the message visitors should take away with them when they leave the pavilion.
Dutch innovations ready to scale up
This very first Dutch pavilion at Techtextil is the first visible public-private partnership investing in the European positioning of the Dutch textile sector in the field of circular and digital. Techtextil, with its focus on technical textiles, nonwovens, and innovation, is the ideal trade fair for this. According to organizer Messe Frankfurt, more than 1,500 exhibitors are expected at Techtextil this year.
The ultimate goal is to accelerate the scaling up of circular business models and (digital) technologies within the sector
The ultimate goal is to accelerate the scaling up of circular business models and (digital) technologies within the sector. Entrepreneurs working on this face a number of challenges. One of these is uncertain legislation and regulations. For example: will there or will there not be an obligation to use recycled fibers in new clothing? Nevertheless, a number of Dutch entrepreneurs with perseverance and ingenuity are managing to capitalize on their technology and value chain – regardless of which way the legislation and regulations go. These entrepreneurs are also present at the country pavilion.
An extensive library of recycled and recyclable materials
Vodde collects millions of kilograms of discarded textiles from companies, consumers, and governments, and uses them to design high-quality socks and yarns. These products are used in retail, fashion, and government agencies, giving the textiles a new lease on life on a large scale.
In addition, designer Eva de Laat developed Materialliance: a digital material intelligence platform that supports designers, product and material decision-makers in making technically and practically feasible choices in yarns, constructions, and chain partners. Finally, Arly, which laminates textiles (thereby improving functional properties such as waterproofing, insulation, fire retardancy, and shape retention, ed.), has an extensive library of recycled and recyclable materials that can be used for this purpose.
The three companies mentioned above – like the companies mentioned earlier – are ready to scale up their innovations and thus make a greater impact.
Other participants in the mission to put the Netherlands on the map as a European ‘hub’ for circular textiles and new technology are EeCoff (which developed a patented fabric from recycled polyester, in which carbonized coffee grounds are processed into color pigment), bAwear (which measures the ecological footprint of textile production), EE Labels (which has made the future of woven QR codes possible on a large scale, which can also be scanned until the end of their life), Permess (which focuses on post-consumer recycled fabrics), and Hollanders Printing Solutions, which enables sample production of measured quantities, thus preventing overproduction and waste.
The possibilities are there!
The initiators of the Dutch Circular Textile Pavilion:
Pieter van Kessel, co-founder of Circular Textile Days and owner of De Novo Fabrics: ‘It is important to put the Netherlands on the map as an ‘innovative circular textile brand’. With a well-curated pavilion and program, participants not only gain extra visibility, but by joining forces, they also strengthen each other.’
Nanette Hogervorst, innovation director at Modint: "As a trade association, we represent entrepreneurs who—against the tide of the linear economy—have the courage to act circularly. They are now standing together, courageously ready to make an impact on a larger scale: the possibilities are there! We definitely see opportunities and are pleased that the government is emphatically supporting this country pavilion through the Circular Textiles Action Plan and support from CreativeNL (which promotes internationalization, ed.).'
Jaap Zandbergen, who has been working in the sector for more than 30 years and is one of the authors of the Circular Textiles Action Plan: 'As an entrepreneur, you go to Techtextil because in a few days you can do what would normally take months. Techtextil is the European meeting place for the entire textile chain: brands, suppliers, machine builders, recyclers, and digital/traceability parties. It is precisely there that you meet the international partners and customers you need to increase volume."