ECAP is €3.6 million EULIFEfunded project which aims toreduce clothing waste across Europe andembed a circular economy approach. Our research Mapping clothing impacts in Europe: the environmental costshows there is a big opportunity for the environmental impact of clothing to be reduced.
The projectruns for three and a half years, ending inMarch 2019.Research, case studies and recommendationswill be shared on our websiteforyears thereafter to help the sectorcontinue its path to sustainability. We work across eight different areas to achieve this.
The final findings of the project can be found here
Objectives and targets
The focus of ECAP is to adopt a circular approach to divert clothing waste from landfill and incineration across Europe. Specifically it aims to:
- Divert over 90,000 tonnes of clothing waste from landfill and incineration.
- Reduce the carbon, water and waste footprints of clothing in Europe.
- Ensurethat fewer low grade textiles go to incineration and landfill.
- Preventwaste in the clothing supply chain.
- Encourageinnovation in resource-efficient design, recycling of textile fibres and service models to encourage business growth in the sector.
- Influenceconsumers to buy smarter and use clothing for longer by using the existing Love Your Clothes consumer campaign.
Links with European clothing sector
The project has important synergies with existing and upcoming sector activities and will support these to deliver best practice.
The synergiesinclude specific sustainability goals developed throughEuropean Commission proposals such as theCircular Economy Package,Product Environmental Footprint, and EU Garment Initiative, as well asAction Plans led by National Governments andIndustry Associations.
The projectalso delivers actions which supporttheUN Sustainable Development Goals(in particular goals 9, 12, 13, 15 and 17) and theOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Each of the ECAP partners work with different stakeholders across the clothing industry. Find out more about how you can get involved below.
| Sustainable retailers and brands |
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| Inspiring designers |
| Helping designers and product development teams to extend the life of clothing.Design for Longevityis a platform providing knowledge, tools and inspiration to empower designers, technologists, and product developers to design more sustainable, longer lasting clothes. |
| Engaging clothing suppliers |
| Support cutting the environmental impact of their supply chain production processes. |
| Ground-breaking public procurement |
| Collaborate on developing a ground-breaking green circular public procurement strategy for workwear. |
| Consumer behaviourchange |
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| Guiding cities, municipalities and local authorities |
| Guiding six forward-thinking European cities in developing pilots to increase clothing recovery and recycling rates. |
