Statements from The Nordic Textile Collaboration reference group

The Nordic Textile Collaboration report departs in approaches that are unique and grown from Scandinavian design traditions; for one, the idea that user experiences are important for developing high value design; and secondly, the idea that collaboration and sharing is instrumental in developing new economic models. Despite prior attempts, we have not yet succeeded building a strong Nordic coalition with a focus on sustainable and circular textiles. However, as this report illustrates, it is most urgent that the Nordic countries collaborate and coordinate efforts in a period defined by the largest transition of the textiles sector since the globalization of the 1990’s.
Nordic countries share cultural heritage, climatic conditions, industrial history and the idea of the welfare society – even if each individual country has specific strongholds and unique traditions, skills and know-how for textiles. Through coordinating initiatives, investments and knowledge build-up across the Nordic countries, we could potentially revitalize our proud textile sector with particular focus on high value design development and services for prolonging textile resources in our own region. It is therefore my hope that the Nordic Textile Collaboration initiative can help build resilience in times of geopolitical crisis and transition and secure a viable path for the future.
Else Skjold, Associate Professor, PhD in design and sustainability, The Royal Danish Academy, Denmark

Participating in the Nordic Textile Collaboration has been both enlightening and enriching for NF&TA and the partnership. Through the webinars and workshops, we gained valuable insights into actors within areas such as circular business models and textile recycling. The format allowed us to invite relevant cluster partners to attend the webinars, making the knowledge-sharing highly practical and collaborative. The project has also been a good platform for showcasing innovative actors and exciting new research, as well as building stronger relationships across the Nordic region. Engaging with new Nordic stakeholders has led to more fluid communication and cooperation, with the Nordic Textile Collaboration serving as a common reference point and catalyst for ongoing dialogue, and we will use the report as a reference tool in future projects. Further research into systemic incentives and frameworks that encourage large-scale adoption of circular practices is needed, and we believe that continued collaboration and focus on consumer behavior change is crucial.
Gro Haram, Head of Sustainability, NF&TA, Norway

Systems change is obtained by addressing three perspectives simultaneously: impacting greater number – scale out, impacting laws and policies – scale up, and impacting cultural roots – scale deep (McConnel Foundation, 2015). This project is an inspiring example of this multi-dimensional approach.
The coming years will be critical for creating the leverage required to change the textile system. This includes both the implementation of upcoming legislation as well as investment in enabling infrastructure to scale circular business models and push for a sustainable consumption. The way forward is spelled collaboration, and the Nordics own a great opportunity to be a leader in this process.
At Science Park Borås we have a strong focus on how development of CBM and changing consumption norms impact each other and drive change. The suggested themes for actions in this report are relevant for this cause. As an innovation actor, we want to highlight the need for accessible testbed environments, focused on enabling value retention in the textile flows and that are open for companies and other stakeholders to partner up and develop new and innovative solutions. Such environments would highly benefit from more Nordic collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
Adrian Zethraeus, Project Manager, Science Park Borås, Sweden

The Nordic textile collaboration provides valuable insights into the willingness of both consumers and producers to contribute to the reduction of waste and more circularity in the textile sector, and the barriers too. While the report contains many suggestions for actions needed to make the textile sector more circular, we are also very happy to see it being stressed these will only achieve environmental gains, if new production and waste is reduced and the lifetime and use-phase of products is extended.
The report highlights the need to make circular business models and products more competitive and attractive and concrete suggestions for new developments are provided. It would be interesting to also reverse the object of inquiry and thus ask, what maintains the superior competitiveness and attractiveness of the more conventional business models, both in the eyes of producers and consumers? Such an inquiry could reveal what we need less of and hence regulate more, to create space in the market for circular businesses and products.
Lina Katan, Special Advisor, Circular Denmark, Denmark

By reading this report, one can gain a good general understanding of the various challenges facing the textile industry and the complexities involved in changing the entire paradigm. It is important to adopt a completely different perspective and approach, and to achieve this, we must engage the entire value chain from design and production to the end consumer.
Numerous initiatives are currently underway, with many hoping to contribute to this change. An overview of Nordic sustainable projects identified a total of 148 initiatives. The report states, “However, the identified initiatives were mainly small-scale and nationally oriented.” This finding highlights the need for more effective and extensive knowledge sharing across the Nordics.
In Denmark, we have established the Textile Sector Collaboration to prepare Danish brands for EU legislation and to exchange challenges and experiences related to circular business models. A Nordic initiative would be an excellent way to ensure that knowledge and potential in areas such as technology, design methods, and infrastructure can be shared.
Betina Simonsen, CEO, Lifestyle & Design Cluster, Denmark