On Thursday 30 May, Leiden University hosts a workshop to foster collaborations to improve the governance of European textile waste export. Different stakeholders, including municipalities, associations of textile collectors and sorters, industry and consumers associations, are warmly invited to join the conversation in The Hague.
A new EU framework for waste management is in the making. Leiden University researchers Antonella Maiello, Arjan de Koning and Daniela Vicherat Mattar assert it is crucial such framework addresses the challenges of post-consumer textile, adopting the perspectives of the multiple actors involved in this global value-chain. This matters because, as Maiello argues 'when you look at data about textile waste flows from The Netherlands, the Dutch statistic institution report CBS is not the same as the data presented by the European Environmental Agency'. Another issue is discrepancies regarding the definitions of different stakeholders on what counts as material. 'Material is not properly qualified, so in some cases actors are talking about reusable or resalable material, but the same is seen as waste by other parties. There's a grey area where it's not clear who gives qualifications to materials and where the definition of responsibilities lie. This is a big problem since post-consumer textile is transboundary phenomenon and a large part of it is being shipped to other countries.'
Essential timing
This workshop is to address different perspectives on textile waste by including representatives of as many actors within the value chain as possible, trying to map everyone's views and direction. 'The timing of this workshop is essential', says Maiello. 'Now, it is still possible to inform the EU working group on the new framework. Indeed, at the workshop a EU policy officer will be participating, and we can provide inputs from the point of view of different actors working on the field. '
All actors involved in this field are warmly invited to the Leiden University workshop 'Flaws in the Flow'.
When: Thursday 30 May 2024, 10:00 - 17:00
Where: Schouwburgstraat 2, 2511 VA The Hague
Room: Living Lab
