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.

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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.