The ESPR has pushed textile circularity to the forefront. Leading the way since 2016, Sympatex emphasizes mono-material design and improvements to recycling infrastructure to close the loop – and urges the rest of the industry to follow suit.

The ESPR came into effect in July of this year – and it has been a wake-up call for the textile industry. This regulation forces us all to focus on sustainable product design and make textile circularity a top priority. Long before the ESPR and EU Green Deal set industry standards, Sympatex took bold steps toward circularity. In fact, we set ambitious goals already back in 2016, recognizing that a sustainable future ultimately depends on materials that support a closed-loop cycle. And we’ve come a long way in achieving those goals.

Recycling textiles is one of the biggest challenges our industry faces today. Two main issues stand out: First, without a functional recycling infrastructure, it is very difficult to collect old textiles and reintegrate them into the production cycle. With the new waste framework directive, this is now a national obligation. Second, the predominance of blends (mixed materials) in our industry makes products much harder to recycle. That is where Sympatex comes in: With our consistent mono-material strategy based on polyester, we ensure that our laminates are recyclable.

Textile recycling key to circularity

Our journey toward circularity started early. Today, 97% of our portfolio in the apparel and workwear sectors consists of mono-materials, paving the way for circular end-of-life solutions for our products. But to close the loop completely, we are steadily increasing our use of recycled materials, with the goal of reaching 100% by 2030.

Currently, 66% of our laminates are made from recycled raw materials. In the apparel segment, 24% of our laminates are based strictly on fiber-2-fiber recycling. To actively tackle the challenge of recycling infrastructure, we are working closely with initiatives like the Accelerating Circularity Project Europe, which specifically focuses on the obstacles and potential solutions for the European recycling infrastructure.

Committed to a circular economy

As part of our commitment to circularity, we have embedded three foundational principles into our strategy: Eliminating harmful substances, prioritizing mono-materials, and creating closed-loop models. By producing only PTFE- and PFC-free membranes and utilizing polyester only for all layers of a laminate, Sympatex reduces environmental impact and simplifies recycling by avoiding material blends. Using mono-materials, made entirely of recyclable polyester, ensures that our products can easily be reintegrated into the production cycle.

The urgency of transitioning to a circular economy is further underscored by the EU Green Deal, which mandates a shift toward practices that reduce resource consumption and carbon emissions. The textile industry, as one of the most resource-intensive sectors globally, faces pressure to minimize waste and redesign products for sustainability. Through partnerships, joint projects and contributing our expertise to regulatory processes, Sympatex drives transformation and advocates for stronger regulations to promote sustainable innovations across the textile sector.

Challenges and solutions

As an ingredient brand, the biggest hurdle we face is the lack of demand on the market for recycled materials. Despite our extensive range of recycled options, many customers continue to use virgin materials with no recycled content. This is where brands, manufacturers, and especially designers need to focus on “Design for Recyclability.”
Developing a recycling infrastructure offers both ecological and economic benefits. A circular model strengthens both environmental resilience and regional economies by generating new jobs and promoting sustainable local production. It can create new jobs in Europe, reduce transport emissions, and address the textile waste problem, particularly in developing and emerging countries.

 

Photo: Sympatex