Brussels, 8 May 2026 – At IFAT Munich 2026 this week, Recycling Europe and bvse brought together policymakers, industry leaders and circular economy experts for the high-level panel discussion “Fast fashion, slow progress? Scaling EU circularity in textiles”, placing the growing crisis facing Europe’s textile recycling and circularity systems firmly at the centre of the debate.

The discussion featured Marika Hanschke (The National German Retail Association for Textiles, Footwear and Leather Goods – BTE), Olaf Dechow (Otto Group), Julia Schneider (German Bundestag), Mariska Boer (Boer Group & Recycling Europe Textiles) and Toby Moss (Worn Again), moderated by Ekaterina Stoyanova (Recycling Europe).

Throughout the debate, speakers stressed that Europe’s textile sector requires a systemic transformation to meet the EU’s circularity and sustainability objectives. Against the backdrop of rapidly expanding fast fashion business models and growing pressure on existing collection, sorting and recycling systems, speakers warned that incremental change will not be enough to tackle the scale of the challenge. The discussion also highlighted the difficult market realities facing textile circularity in Europe. Scaling fibre-to-fibre recycling will require stronger demand for recycled materials, backed by effective and workable policy measures. Speakers also pointed to the increasing strain on collection and sorting operators, the negative impacts on second-hand textile export markets, and the importance of preserving efficient reuse systems while respecting the waste hierarchy.

A central theme throughout the panel was also the need for legislation that is uniform, practical and enforceable across the EU. On Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), the panellists called for a harmonised approach across Member States, stronger eco-modulation to support ecodesign, and inclusive governance. They further stressed the need for stronger market surveillance, greater transparency and equal enforcement of rules for all market actors, including third-country operators and online sellers, to ensure a level playing field.

The panel concluded that coordinated action, workable regulation and stronger market incentives will be essential to achieve a circular textile economy, and address the major problem of fast-fashion.