This event is part of the 10th edition of the Circular Economy Week, a week in which companies, government organizations and circular hubs across the Netherlands offer an inspiring view on various circular themes. Events and activities are organized to rethink how we design, use, and reuse products. SustainaLab is thrilled to participate as an official hub, opening our doors to showcase innovative approaches to building a circular economy.
Future of Textiles Conference
Date: Monday 17th of March, 09.00 – 21.30 (all-day conference with loose events)
Location: Matrix ONE, Amsterdam Science Park 301, 1098 XH Amsterdam.
Language: English/Dutch
Join us for an inspiring day dedicated to fostering connections and collaboration in the transition towards a local, circular, and regenerative textile economy. Organized in collaboration with Clean & Unique, an award-winning platform that simplifies sustainability by connecting fashion brands with experts to build ethical and transparent supply chains, this event offers a unique opportunity to engage with industry pioneers, gain insights into the latest research on reducing environmental impacts caused by microfibers, and establish new partnerships for future collaboration.
The conference consists of several separate events, allowing you to attend the full day or register for individual sessions based on your interests and time. In between events, participants can use the workspaces in Matrix ONE.
Program Overview:
- 09:00 – 10:30 | Clean & Unique – 18th Anniversary B2B Breakfast
- Clean&Unique celebrates the 18th anniversary of its sustainable fashion platform, driven by the 5 P’s of People, Planet, Partnership, Purpose and Peace of sustainability. Well-known brands, suppliers and projects such as MUD jeans, New Optimist, Studio Jux or The Swapshop once started at Clean & Unique. During this B2B breakfast at NEO CAFE experts will pitch their innovations for a circular textile industry and there will be plenty opportunity to engage with the Dutch sustainable textile ecosystem and network.
- Sign up here! Tickets are €15 excl. VAT / Free for partners and members of Clean&Unique.
- 10.30 – 12.00 | Recycling of Textiles
A discussion on chemical and mechanical solutions to the mammoth problem of recycling textile waste.- Gert-Jan Gruter, part-time professor at UvA’s Industrial Sustainable Chemistry group and CTO at Avantium, will give a keynote on a groundbreaking chemical recycling technology that efficiently recycles both the cotton and polyester components of polycotton, offering a scalable solution for textile waste.
- Michiel Dekkers, co-owner of i-did, will share how mechanical recycling transforms discarded textiles into high-quality recycled felt, creating new products while reducing fashion waste.
- Ellen Mensink, founder of Brightfiber Textiles, the first worldwide fully automated 100% circular fiber-to-fiber fashion producer. Brightfiber recently set up a factory in Amsterdam. Ellen will enlighten us on their innovative upcycling process and share her views on the importance of a fully closed loop approach.
- More information and the link to register can be found here (free of charge).
- 12:00 – 13:00 | Lunch
- Participants can order lunch at NEO Restaurant, payable on-site (€10).
- 13:00 – 17:00 | ‘Future Fibres’ Mini-Symposium
- This symposium addresses the challenge of reducing environmental harm caused by microfibers. The interdisciplinary research team SISTEM-NL will present their findings on microfiber release during laundering and seek new industry partners for ongoing research. The session includes presentations, an interactive discussion on future research directions, and concludes with a networking reception.
- Target group: clothing industry, supply chain and potential (funding) partners.
- More information can be found here (free of charge).
- 16:00 – 19:00 | Clothing swap organised by the Swapshop CANCELED
- 19:30 – 20:30 | Documentary Screening: “High Hopes”
- Developed by The Swapshop in collaboration with Mumster, this documentary showcases how discarded textiles can be repurposed into locally produced products. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with industry experts.
- Sign up here! (free of charge).
- 20:30 – 21:30 | Drinks & Networking
More Information & Registration:
You can find all individual registration links in the event details.
If you have any questions about this conference, please contact us at freddie@sustainalab.nl.
