The whole textile sector is facing a change. The EU's ambition for 2030 is to get the companies to do business in a more sustainable way. There is a clear desire for companies to become more responsible, but how? Together with Rester, we decided to organize a webinar to give textile buyers some tips on how to make more sustainable procurement decisions. Watch the recording of the interesting discussion, you will get a lot of good insights on how to improve textile sourcing.

Stéphane Popescu / CEO, COSE361 Sustainable Apparel & Footwear Consultancy

Stéphane explained which 4 points of the EU Textile Strategy are for all of those working in the textile sector should know (or at least follow closely):

1. The EPR (this has been in place in France for 10 years!)
2. ESPR and the Digital Product Passport
3. Green claims and PEF
4. CSRD and ESRS

Stéphane talked about the EU textile strategy overall and the future compliance. We also heard what France has already done in the long term and Stéphane shared some good company cases. In Stéphane's opinion, it is the workwear sector that will comply with the future requirements of the textile sector because, the workwear sector is equipped to make the shift to circular economy, transparency, use eco-design guidelines and co-operate within the industry.

Stéphane's highlights:

• Transparency & Traceability
• Preferred materials (note that there is not enough for everyone in the future)
• Circular economy
• PEF

Hanna Lehmuskoski / Environmental Manager, Kesko – K Group

Kesko is the most sustainable grocery retailer in the world according to the recently published Global 100 list. Hanna told us about Kesko's work on sustainability and we learned that, in the core, sustainability is a choice at Kesko. Hanna's highlights also included Kesko's emissions, code of conduct and global value chain. Did you know that Kesko sends its end-of-life workwear to Rester for fibre recycling?

Hanna's highlights:

• Know the sources of your raw materials.
• Identify your supply chain and find the areas that needs improvements.
• Data!

Tomi Hilvo /Nordic Way Group

Tomi presented the sustainable business framework and how to bridge the gap between the sales and the sustainable business. Tomi emphasized a holistic approach to sustainability, which brings benefits to all areas of business. Tomi also pointed out that this is an ongoing process for everyone, meaning that no one is ever done with these things. The most important thing is to take action!

Tomi's highlights:

• Collaboration
• KPI:s
• Holistic thinking

Tomi Hilvo/Noora Salonoja, CEO Touchpoint Oy with Anders Mixe, Category Manager, Capio Nordic

In our panel discussion, we shared an example of a co-operation story, where workwear solutions have brought sustainable- and economic added value to the purchaser and the producer. And the end result of a successful collaboration has increased employee satisfaction for the workwear.

Capio, a healthcare services provider, had took a holistic approach to its new workwear procurement. The panel discussion shows what all possible factors had to be considered to make workwear as long-lasting as possible and how 26 sizes of trousers could be covered with just nine sizes.

Panel discussion highlights:

• Dare to do things differently than before
• Have an open discussion
• Collaboration

Anna-Kaisa Huttunen/ Partnership Manager, Rester Oy

Anna-Kaisa brought a textile recycler's perspective to the textile procurement. Anna-Kaisa illustrated her main points with What if? questions.

Only 1% of discarded clothes are currently being recycled. In a EU wide textile problem of 7.5 million tonnes, this 1 % figure is too low. What if the end-of-life textile industry is a goldmine of resources waiting to be discovered? Anna-Kaisa also busted some myths about the textile recycling and pointed out that cost-effectiveness  is achieved when there is a demand for the recycled products.

Anna-Kaisa's highlights:

• Small steps towards to the new normal
• 10% recycled content in textiles is enough to start with
• Let's accept the possible melange colors of recycled textiles

At the end of the webinar, our speakers were asked a few more questions, which brought interesting information such as which textiles Kesko-Group recycles, how France provides incentives for recycling services and the emphasis on co-operation in the circular economy of textiles. Our moderator Hanne concluded the discussion by raising 3 more points towards a more sustainable future.

• Together
• Data!
• Behavioral change

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Watch the recording of the whole Webinar here!

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