The Circular Economy & The Ecomoda Project

 The textile and garment industries are some of the biggest industrial polluters. More than 20% of industrial water pollution is due to them. The circular economy and the application of sustainable practices for the production of clothes is in harmony with the expectations of customers and with the protection of human rights. Along with EU regulations, industry must adapt its ability to reduce the resources used to ensure the protection of the environment and human health.

​One of the EU's latest Sustainable Textiles Strategy initiatives is to "move the EU towards a climate neutral, circular economy where products are designed to be more durable, reusable, repairable, recyclable and energy efficient". Some preliminary steps are being taken for supply chain due diligence. Although with a high impact on the environment and climate, these industries realize some of the highest profits, and this is crucial to be able to seek changes and apply business models characteristic of the circular economy.

What are the limiting factors for solving these challenges? First of all, it is the lack of a highly qualified and trained workforce in green practices. This can slow down the process of sustainable development of the industry and its competitiveness. Along with the training of new employees, the need for retraining and upskilling of the workforce in these industries is increasingly emerging. The application of lifelong learning is necessary.

According to the report Greening with jobs: World Employment and Social Outlook, skills in the textile sector do not match the goals of achieving economic sustainability due to the lack of knowledge of the relationship between skills and the environment, the lack of regular employment forecasts and financial mechanisms to encourage investment in skills development. In many countries, environmental legislation reforms are already leading to the establishment/revision of professional qualification standards. Therefore, the initiators of the ECOMODA Project have come to the conclusion that the involvement of workers at all levels in an organization through training and digital tools can offer a consolidated solution to the stated challenges.
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The ECOMODA Project is developing a package of knowledge, competences and skills on sustainability and ethical dimensions to be used by enterprises in the garment and textile industries. Environmental sustainability training and initiatives are planned for those working in the industry, including designers, suppliers, manufacturers, SME owners and managers and employees. Engaging all levels and departments of a textile or garment company in the process of creating "green skills" will lead to a change in the behaviour of the company as a whole and help to improve the sustainability of the entire industry. The project is in action and proposes to achieve this by:

• creating e-learning courses to upskill management level in enterprises as well as designers to develop the necessary knowledge and skills to support the "green transformation";
• increasing the qualifications of workers through training in the field of sustainable development;
• promoting a culture of shared participation where everyone contributes actively to the Sustainable Development Goals;
• supporting both employers/managers and their employees through open access to a dedicated digital platform;
• providing an opportunity to identify the environmental and social impacts of the industry and implement a sustainable development strategy.