Developing circular and greener value chains for the textile industry in Tunisia
Growing consumer awareness on the environmental impact of textile and garment production has created a rising demand for environmentally responsible produced products. This demand is not only a fashion trend, but much more a concept that addresses the unsustainable and wasteful practices of the textile and garment industry and has moved global brands to see over their supply chain for more sustainable alternatives, such as renewable fibers and less polluting processes.
Under the SwitchMed Programme, UNIDO will in Tunisia focus on actions that can develop the value chain of the textile and garment industry in becoming more circular and less polluting. Together with global brands, international key-experts, local stakeholders, and actors along the Tunisia textile value chain, UNIDO will work on developing an infrastructure that can valorize post-industrial and pre-consumer textile waste; and to build local capacities to help eliminate the use of hazardous chemicals in the textile production.
Global demand for sustainably sourced cotton and polyester fibres is growing and calls for alternative sourcing to meet this request. Cutting scraps, defective pieces of garments, unsold collections, and second quality graded products from the garment supply chain represent a significant amount of waste, but is also an untapped resource that could meet the industry demand for recycled fibers.
Developing a value chain that can appeal to all actors along it, and to facilitate the valorization of textile waste into value-added products, requires a comprehensive mapping of waste and know-how of the local value chain. Together with leading international brands, local industry stakeholders and the government, UNIDO strengthens local capacities to facilitate proper classification, efficient collection, sorting and recycling of post-industrial and pre-consumer textile in line with global market specifications.
The actions under this workstream include:
– Mapping the textile waste eco-system
– Scenario analysis and identifying business models
– Industry pilots and training of local expertise
– Identifying business partnerships for circular technology solutions
– Developing a national roadmap for textile waste valorization
Global demand for sustainably sourced cotton and polyester fibres is growing and calls for alternative sourcing to meet this request. Cutting scraps, defective pieces of garments, unsold collections, and second quality graded products from the garment supply chain represent a significant amount of waste, but is also an untapped resource that could meet the industry demand for recycled fibers.
Developing a value chain that can appeal to all actors along it, and to facilitate the valorization of textile waste into value-added products, requires a comprehensive mapping of waste and know-how of the local value chain. Together with leading international brands, local industry stakeholders and the government, UNIDO strengthens local capacities to facilitate proper classification, efficient collection, sorting and recycling of post-industrial and pre-consumer textile in line with global market specifications.
The actions under this workstream include:
– Mapping the textile waste eco-system
– Scenario analysis and identifying business models
– Industry pilots and training of local expertise
– Identifying business partnerships for circular technology solutions
– Developing a national roadmap for textile waste valorization
Reducing the chemical footprint of the textile and garment industry is a priority for the SwitchMed Programme. To remove hazardous chemicals in the textile supply chain and reduce the vast quantities of water required to manufacture fabrics, UNIDO will cooperate with the ZDHC foundation, international brands, and local stakeholders to level up the local capacities that can ensure systemic compliance to leading chemical protocols. This includes the training of local expertise, accomplishing industry demonstrations, supporting the certification of local laboratories and support for wide-scale adoption.
The actions under this workstream include:
– Raising awareness on the safer chemicals protocol
– Building capacities of local service providers
– Training and industrial pilots
– Sharing results and practices
– Developing a national roadmap for safer chemicals compliance
Reducing the chemical footprint of the textile and garment industry is a priority for the SwitchMed Programme. To remove hazardous chemicals in the textile supply chain and reduce the vast quantities of water required to manufacture fabrics, UNIDO will cooperate with the ZDHC foundation, international brands, and local stakeholders to level up the local capacities that can ensure systemic compliance to leading chemical protocols. This includes the training of local expertise, accomplishing industry demonstrations, supporting the certification of local laboratories and support for wide-scale adoption.
The actions under this workstream include:
– Raising awareness on the safer chemicals protocol
– Building capacities of local service providers
– Training and industrial pilots
– Sharing results and practices
– Developing a national roadmap for safer chemicals compliance
