"Circular Textiles – Less Waste, More Future”
Date:
28th of May 2025
Location:
JW Marriott® - Bucharest Grand Hotel, CD Ballroom | (Calea 13 Septembrie, no. 90, Bucharest)
About the conference
The Circular Economy Coalition – CERC in partnership with ARETEX – the Romanian Association for Textile Reuse and Recycling, EuRIC Textiles (an initiative of the European Recycling Industries Confederation), and BACT – the Bulgarian Association for Circular Textiles, invites you to attend the international conference “Circular Textiles – Less Waste, More Future“.
This will be the first international conference organized in Bucharest, bringing together experts from the entire textile value chain across Central and Eastern Europe. The discussions will cover trends and initiatives being addressed in Brussels, with the aim of developing the textile industry in line with the principles of the circular economy. Additionally, we seek to establish strategic priorities for this region.
Key Topics to be Addressed
1. Harmonization of European and National Regulations and Standards: Aligning national legislation with EU regulations and practices to ensure a steady flow of textile materials for reuse and recycling through separate collection and efficient sorting, supported by the establishment of extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes.
2. Exchange of Best Practices and European Collaboration: Sharing best practices regarding advanced sorting technologies for reuse or recycling, as well as circular economy strategies, including the implementation of Design for Reuse principles.
3. Scientific Studies, Innovative Projects, and Best Practice Examples: Promoting research and development programs to improve textile recycling technologies and create new circular business models (for reuse or repair).
4. Transparency and Data Sharing: Developing common European databases to monitor textile waste, track materials that are reused and recycled, ensure transparency, and identify opportunities for improvement.
The conference represents a European initiative addressed to at all actors across the textile value chain, involving legislative alignment, technical expertise, and adequate infrastructure.
Keynote speakers
Nicolae Ștefănuță
Vice-President of the European Parliament
Mircea Fechet
Romanian Minister of Environment
Mihaela Frăsineanu
State Counselor, Chancellery of the Prime Minister
Andrei Corlan
General Commissioner, National Environmental Guard
Constantin Toma
Mayor, Buzău Municipality
Constantin Damov
The Circular Economy Coalition CERC
Mariska Boer
EURIC Textiles
Zoltán Gündisch
Romanian Association for Textile Reuse and Recycling – ARETEX
Sirma Zheleva
Bulgarian Association for Circular Textile (BACT)
Paul Dietzsch-Doertenbach
Landbell Group
Radu Merica
RER Group
Marius Munteanu
TexCycle Recovery Solutions
Diana Miculaș
SecondTex
Karina Bolin
Humana People to People Romania
Zsuzsanna Székely
La Majole
Oana Opriș
Genuin.shop
Teia Ciulacu
Viitor Plus Association
Mihaela Papazu
Green Planet Association
Raluca Mocanu
IKEA ROMANIA
Marius Porojan
Green Pack
Alex Laibăr
Moderator
Conference Agenda
Registration and Welcome coffee
Opening remarks
Panel 1: European and national legislation developments and their impact on the textile reuse and recycling industry
Opening Presentation – “Insights from the Romanian Reuse and Recycling Industry”
(Zoltán Gündisch - President, Romanian Association for Textile Reuse and Recycling – ARETEX)
Keynote Presentation – “European Recycling Textiles Manifesto”
(Mariska Boer - President, EURIC Textiles)
Panel Discussion + Q&A: European & local authorities, as well as the industry’s perspective on legislation developments regarding the reuse and recycling of textiles
• Nicolae Ștefănuță - Vice-President of the European Parliament
• Mircea Fechet - Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests
• Andrei Corlan - General Commissioner, National Environmental Guard
• Mariska Boer – President, EURIC Textiles
• Constantin Damov – President, Circular Economy Coalition - CERC
• Zoltán Gündisch – President, Romanian Association for Textile Reuse and Recycling - ARETEX
• Sirma Zheleva - Executive Director, Bulgarian Association for Circular Textile (BACT)
Moderator: Alex Laibăr – Executive Director, Circular Economy Coalition - CERC
Panel 2: Post-consumer textiles collection
Presentation - “The Need for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): A Case Study – Hungary”
(Hunyadi Bence -Executive Director, Textrade kft, Hungary)
Presentation - “Post-Consumer Textile Collection in Romania – 2025”
(Marius Munteanu – National Collection Manager, TexCycle Recovery Solutions)
Presentation - “Extended producer responsibility schemes (EPR schemes)”
(Paul Dietzsch-Doertenbach - Head of Textile EPR Programme, Landbell Group, Germania)
Panel Discussion + Q&A: Textile Waste Collection – Implementation & Challenges
Insights and updates following the introduction of mandatory separate collection, as of 1 January 2025:
• Constantin Toma - Mayor, Buzău Municipality
• Paul Dietzsch-Doertenbach - Head of Textile EPR Programme, Landbell Group
• Radu Merica - General Manager, RER Group
• Marius Munteanu – National Collection Manager, TexCycle Recovery Solutions
• Diana Miculaș – Department Manager, SecondTex
Lunch Break
Panel 3: Textiles Reuse
Presentation “Sorting for Reuse – A Priority in the Circular Economy”
(Karina Bolin - President, Humana People to People Romania)
Panel Discussion + Q&A: Textile Reuse – Upcoming EPR Requirements and Industry Changes
• Mihaela Frăsineanu - State Counselor, Chancellery of the Prime Minister
• Karina Bolin - President, Humana People to People Romania
• Zsuzsanna Székely - CEO, La Majole
• Oana Opriș - Co-founder, Genuin.shop
• Teia Ciulacu - Founder & President, Viitor Plus Association
• Mihaela Papazu - President, Green Planet Association
Coffee Break
Panel 4: Textiles Recycling
Presentation “Textile Recycling – A Market Without Demand”
(Zoltán Gündisch - General Manager, Roseco Textile Recycling)
Panel Discussion + Q&A: Textile Recycling – Market and Technology Outlook
Discussion topics: requirements for raw materials, mandatory recycled content, and market development.
• Zoltán Gündisch - General Manager, Roseco Textile Recycling
• Raluca Mocanu - Sustainability Leader, IKEA ROMANIA
• Marius Porojan - Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Green Pack
• Constantin Damov – President, Circular Economy Coalition - CERC
• Sirma Zheleva - Executive Director, Bulgarian Association for Circular Textile (BACT)