On 9 May, the Member States of the European Union celebrate Europe Day. This date – chosen in reference to the Schuman declaration – corresponds to the date of the founding act of the European Union and is part of the European symbols for the preservation of Peace. In 2022, Europe Day takes on a special dimension. The European Parliament – given the alarming climate situation – has laid the foundations for the European month by promoting sustainability as a development policy for a greener Europe to which CirCoAX by CircularInnoBooster project is committed.
This 2022 is the European Year of Youth. Therefore, young Europeans are invited to take a stand on European Union issues and contribute to the creation of a better future. In particular, the European Parliament, the Council and the European Commission have launched the Future of Europe Conference, a space to participate in the construction of the EU.
CirCoAX by CircularInnoBooster is an EU co-funded project that leads the way towards sustainability and puts democracy and youth at the centre. When it comes to the circular economy in the fashion and textile sector, the EU is driving an initiative that embodies the commitments of the Green Deal called the New Action Plan for the Circular Economy and the Industrial Strategy.
CirCoAX by CircularInnoBooster together with its 30 projects are aligned with the EU’s objective to create a coherent framework and vision for the transition of the textile sector. By 2030, textile products placed on the EU market must be durable and recyclable, made largely from recycled fibres, free of hazardous substances and produced in a way that respects social rights and the environment. From our project, we are working to transform the textile and fashion industry into a sustainable, circular and regenerative one.
Today we are calling to make the European textile and fashion industry less harmful to the environment and safer and fairer for all. We are launching Europe Day campaigns with our CirCoAX30, highlighting the importance of the EU in achieving the model and paradigm shift.
Because working together will be the only way to create a better fashion and textile industry!
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).
About Finnova
Finnova es una fundación que trabaja para la promoción y el desarrollo de la innovación y el espíritu empresarial a nivel de la UE. Con sede en Bruselas, opera a través de colaboraciones y asociaciones en todos los países de la Unión Europea. La experiencia de Finnova liderando actividades de comunicación y difusión de proyectos europeos se combina con una sólida experiencia probada en la creación de empresas y programas de apoyo empresarial, como aceleradoras, incubadoras y selección y adjudicación de eventos ceremoniales.
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.
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.
About The Circular Project co-designed with 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.