Performance Days will place the spotlight firmly on recyclers when it returns to Munich from 29–30 October 2025.

Under its new Focus Topic, “Textile to Textile – The Role of Recyclers”, the fair aims to deepen industry understanding of textile-to-textile (T2T) recycling as an essential element for the future of the textile sector. The days of the linear ‘take-make-dispose’ model are fast disappearing, replaced by regulations such as Extended Producer Responsibility and the EU’s Product Environmental Footprint rules, which make circularity a legal requirement.

While recycling PET bottles into textiles has become common practice, the industry recognises that true T2T recycling remains in its infancy - technologically complex and dependent on infrastructure, but vital for a sustainable future. Recyclers are central to this transition, developing the technologies to bring fibres back into the loop, even as scalability, quality control and traceability continue to pose challenges.

T2T recycling is only one piece of a broader shift that must include smarter design for recyclability, reducing overproduction, encouraging reuse and repair, and designing products with full circularity in mind. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, just 1% of used textiles become new garments again, while another 12% are downcycled into lower-value items - leaving a huge opportunity to improve.

“Circularity is the key topic of our time,” said Regina Goller, Head of material strategy and future trends at Performance Days. “Textile-to-textile recycling is a core pillar of the circular economy. The industry is working intensively on solutions, and much is already possible at scale. At the same time, new regulations are demanding concrete action. We see it as our mission to raise awareness, connect the right players and build the networks needed to truly close the loop.”

The European Union is driving policy momentum, with mandatory separate collection of textiles from 2025 and investments in sorting technology, digital product passports and new recycling methods. The Trend Forum at Performance Days will showcase the latest material developments for Fall/Winter 2027/28, with the S-Wall visually highlighting T2T recycling in context with new fabrics and product innovations.

Anna Schuster, Head of sustainability at Performance Days, summed up the spirit of this new direction: “Textile waste is a key resource - we just need to use it. Now it’s time to scale, connect, and act. Together, we make solutions visible and shape a future-ready industry.”

www.performancedays.com