Scaling up the Repair and Reuse of Textiles in Urban Areas: Systemic Levers fora Circular Transformation
Cities are where the textile waste challenge is most visible, and where solutions can scale. Drawing on findings from SOLSTICE, Circular Berlin’s position paper shows how Berlin can make reuse and repair part of its core urban infrastructure. It sets out concrete policy recommendations for building reuse infrastructure, supporting repair businesses and making reuse part of everyday life.
Measuring Circularity: How SOLSTICE Evaluates its Four Pilots
Circular practices only make a difference if citizens adopt them. Through four demonstration pilots in Berlin, Prato, Grenoble and Catalonia, SOLSTICE is testing different ways of promoting the 5Rs: Refuse/Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Repurpose and Recycle. But each pilot works in its own context, with its own objectives and target groups, which makes it hard to compare results or tell which approaches could be scaled up.
Register for the third SOLSTICE regional event, in Catalonia
Join us in Barcelona for "Textile Circularity in Action: Building Reuse and Recycling Networks in Catalonia", a half-day event on reuse, repair and repurposing in Catalonia's textile ecosystem, exploring how sustainability and circularity can be strengthened through industry, public administration and citizen-driven solutions. This on-site gathering on the morning of 26 November 2026, from 9:30 to 13:00 CET, in Barcelona, Spain, will feature expert presentations, a panel discussion with regional and international case studies, and a guided activity and visit, offering a hands-on introduction to chemical recycling and practical insights into circular textiles in Catalonia.
From Pilot to Practice: Mapping the Path for SOLSTICE Replication
As regions and industries across Europe actively seek operational answers on sorting, recycling, governance and decision-support, the SOLSTICE partners TECHTERA and POLYMERIS maps the ground and identifies where SOLSTICE outcomes can generate the most meaningful impact.
The approach deliberately combines two dimensions, territorial mapping and cross-sectoral replication, because the two are inseparable.
Scaling Textile Repair and Reuse in European Urban Centres: Systemic Levers
In Berlin, SOLSTICE and Circular Berlin brought together 58 participants to discuss how cities can scale textile repair and reuse. The day featured the REPAIR DEAL pilot, a new position paper and a visit to VORN’s SHIFT Microfactory.
Processing–Property Relationships in Melt Processing of Polyamide–Elastane Textile Blends
This study investigates blends obtained from a commercial PA fabric containing 16% EL, processed via extrusion under various conditions to evaluate the influence of temperature, screw type, and speed on phase morphology and thermo-mechanical performance. The results demonstrate that processing parameters, particularly temperature, significantly affect melt viscosity and the final mechanical properties of the blends.
Register for the second SOLSTICE regional event, in Berlin
Join us in Berlin for “Scaling Textile Repair and Reuse in European Urban Centers: Systemic Levers”, a half-day event exploring how repair and reuse can be scaled across European cities through cultural, governance, and market-driven solutions. This on-site gathering on the afternoon of 5 May 2026 will feature expert presentations, a high-level panel discussion, and a guided visit to an innovative textile microfactory, offering practical insights into systemic change for circular textiles.
From Lab to Industry: Advanced Recycling of Elastane and Polyurethane
SOLSTICE partners Leitat Technological Center and Next Technology Tecnotessile conducted a research on elastane and polyurethane, exploring new recycling and upcycling solutions for two of the most challenging materials in textile waste. Their work focuses on improving the recovery of fibres and valuable components from EL-blended and PU-coated textiles, helping to advance more circular and scalable approaches within the textile industry.
From Demonstration to Scale: Regional Circular Textile Innovations in Prato
SOLSTICE’s first regional event brought 82 participants to Prato to explore upcycling, repair, reuse and elastane recycling. It was co-hosted with RegioGreenTex and ended with a visit to Lanificio Faliero Sarti.
Vivi sostenibile e vinci, con greenApes e SOLSTICE
Le cittadine e i cittadini di Prato e provincia, hanno da oggi un nuovo strumento per vivere in modo più sostenibile: la nuova app digitale greenApes – versione Prato, personalizzata grazie al progetto europeo SOLSTICE, che li aiuterà, in modo semplice, gratuito e divertente, a riparare e riutilizzare gli abiti usati, valorizzare le azioni virtuose legate all’abbigliamento e al tessile, e ricevere sconti e agevolazioni presso le strutture convenzionate, sia nel settore abbigliamento che in ambito culturale e non solo.
Register for the first SOLSTICE regional event, in Prato
Join us in Prato for "From Demonstration to Scale: Regional Circular Textile Innovations in Prato", an engaging half-day event exploring circular economy breakthroughs in the textile sector of Prato, Italy. This on-site gathering on the afternoon of 19 November 2025 will feature three dynamic sessions and a guided visit, offering deep insights into innovative pilot projects, policy discussions, and collaborative actions shaping a more sustainable future for textiles.
Closing the Loop: Territorial Approaches to Circular Textiles in Europe
SOLSTICE partners (Circle Economy, in collaboration with Circular Berlin, Grenoble-Alpes Métropole, the Comune di Prato, and Generalitat de Catalunya) conducted a current‐state analysis of the textile ecosystem in the territories of Berlin, Grenoble, Prato, and Catalonia, including prevailing circular practices.
The analysis offers a comprehensive overview across multiple dimensions, encompassing spatial planning, employment, material flows, and local infrastructure, to map the enabling conditions for circular textiles in each region.
Transforming the Textile Sector: Regional Insights and Strategies for a Circular Economy
The thought process behind the SOLSTICE project began with the recognition that existing systems in many regions across Europe do not sufficiently support circular practices. SOLSTICE partner Circle Economy, leads the current state analysis. Their work will increase our understanding of the circular textiles’ ecosystem in these territories, providing critical insights into the areas that require immediate action.