Roundtable on Trade, the Circular Economy, and Sustainable Development in the Textiles and Clothing Sector

The current linear model of the textiles and clothing sector puts significant pressure on natural resources and ecosystems across the life cycle of products. The transition to a more circular textiles sector requires a shift towards safe, recycled, or renewable inputs, with a significant reduction in the use of virgin non-renewable materials, which pose the threat of releasing hazardous substances or plastic microfibres into the environment.

As a contribution to this discussion, The UN Environment Programme, the Forum on Trade, Environment, and SDGs (TESS), and TESS convened a roundtable conference on trade and the circular economy in the textiles and clothing sector.

The roundtable conference will be held on 24 March in Geneva. Trade delegates from both developed and developing countries, alongside leading experts from think tanks, research centres, stakeholder organizations, and international organizations, will gather to exchange perspectives. Representatives of different roles in the textile trade will spur the initial discussions, which will be followed by an open dialogue among delegates and invited experts.