Brussels, 18.10.2021 – The European project entitled ‘CircularInnoBooster’ and its accelerator CirCoAX reaffirm their commitment to equality on International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Poverty is a cruel phenomenon affecting over half of the world and it is triggered by social and environmental injustices.
This UN day reminds us how the impact of climate change and the environmental challenges affect first-hand some regions where inhabitants have less income. Even so, these communities have a great potential and resilience to prompt changes which may contribute to a fairer and more sustainable society. CircularInnoBooster promotes a transition encompassing all the dimensions of the circular economy in the fashion and textile industry, i.e. from society and the environment to the economy.
Through this project, we aim to give visibility and empower all the members of communities in vulnerable situations, e.g. creators, designers, careworkers, associations, and institutions working in the textile or fashion sector who have initiatives which may help achieve social and environmental justice. At CircularInnoBooster, we firmly believe that the fashion and textile industry will be able to re-invent itself and to become sustainable provided that further international cooperation is achieved, that the importance of social justice is acknowledged, and that best practices and ideas are exchanged.
Building a sustainable and egalitarian world is feasible as long as we all value the work of people and if we respect the planet boundaries. In some countries like Bangladesh, women working in the textile sector earn 96 dollars per month; in order to make a living decently, that number should be three times and a half more. According to magazine Yale Environment 360, roughly 40% of chemical products are disposed of into the seas and rivers in China. Consequently, the communities which live in these conditions and countries have to be heard, valued and taken into account for decision-making concerning their jobs and countries. At CircularInnoBooster, we support and consider initiatives, as we aim to create an ecosystem of circular projects which can be replicated in other parts to prompt a social impact.
CirCoAX calls on all innovative projects in the F&T industry through its acceleration open call – deadline: 27 October – to join forces and stand up for equality and to implement fairer, more social and more sustainable models.
About COSME
COSME is the programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises by the European Commission’s Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME).
This programme assists SMEs to develop their business models, to obtain funds and to internationalise. This scheme also supports public administrations to enhance the entrepreneurial environment and to facilitate the economic growth of the EU. During the funding period of 2014-2020, this programme allocated €2.3 billion to support SMEs.
About IED
Istituto Europeo di Design is an academic institution working in education, training, and the research of fashion, design, visual communication, and management. IED has offices in Spain (Madrid and Barcelona), Italy (Milan, Rome and five other cities) and Brazil (São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro). IED works in several EU and COSME countries through collaborations and arrangements with institutions, business support organisations, teachers, experts, and mentors. IED has an extensive network of connections in the fashion and textile sector (F&T).
For more information, click on https://iedmadrid.com/.
About Finnova
Finnova is a foundation working to promote and to develop innovation and entrepreneurship across the EU. Headquartered in Brussels, it works and engages in partnerships in all EU countries. Finnova’s experience in leading communication activities and disseminating European projects is coupled with an extensive expertise in creating enterprises and entrepreneurial support programmes such as accelerators, incubators, and events.
For more information, click on https://web.finnovaregio.org/.
About Texfor
Texfor is a leading textile association in Spain with roughly 400 members. Founded in 2010 and based in Catalonia, Texfor brings together enterprises from the textile value chain, i.e. from weaving to fabrics as well as accessories, textile finishing, printing, and dyeing for the dressmaking industry, textiles for households and technical and industrial applications. Texfor has an extensive expertise as it has worked in relevant expert committees at an EU level: university and professional training, developing financial capacities, cross-cutting collaboration, fostering RDI, specialised services, and leadership in sustainability focused on the circular economy.
For more information, click on https://www.texfor.es/.
About Circulab
Circulab is a laboratory and design studio specialising in developing transformation methods, tools and programmes to help enterprises adopt circular and sustainable business models.
Circulab has designed a number of tools to implement a circular business model in enterprises. It works in 23 countries – 9 out of them in the EU – and it supports projects via 60 independent entrepreneurial consultants. It applies circular methodologies and tools.
For more information, click on https://circulab.com/.
About The Circular Project co-diseñado con HumanNation
TCP (The Circular Project) favours and promotes a circular and sustainable fashion in different areas, offering the fashion industry a communication strategy based on a cross-cutting and systemic approach of the circular economy. TCP combines social, ethical, environmental and economic aspects, and has a strong presence and connections in the sustainable fashion world.
TCP has promoted the Circular Sustainable Fashion Week Madrid, a one-of-a-kind event, and also serves as HQ for the Spanish Association for the Sustainability, Innovation and Circularity in the Fashion Industry. TCP is also ambassador of Sannas (Triple Bottom Line Business Association) and has collaborated in a wide array of Spanish, European, and Latin American institutions and enterprises.
The Circular Project works with Human Nation to co-design and develop CirCoAX. HumanNation is a consultancy enterprise specialising in the development of transformative and disruptive ecosystems of innovation and companies for the ‘new economy’. It is based on the fourth economic sector, the systemic thinking, and co-creation. It raises awareness in organisations and ecosystems to respect the planetary boundaries and the social fabric, creating resilient local economies with a global perspective.
For more information, click on https://thecircularproject.com/ and https://humannation.earth
