Apparel Manufacturing
SMETarget: Clothing Brand SME
If you are a clothing brand SME dealing with waste in production — this project developed 6 pilot cases focusing on zero waste prototyping and recycling techniques that reduce material loss.
Just Fashion · Project
Sustainability and Circularity Toolkit for Fashion SMEs to Meet EU Green Deal Rules
manufacturingPilotedTRL 6
Imagine trying to change how you make clothes to be eco-friendly without knowing where to start or which rules to follow. This project creates a guidebook and a digital assistant to help clothing brands switch to materials that don't pollute and designs that can be recycled. It's like giving a small business a GPS to navigate the complex map of new environmental laws.
By the numbers
6
pilot cases focusing on circularity
20
consortium partners
8
countries involved
The business problem
What needed solving
Fashion SMEs struggle to adapt to strict EU Green Deal regulations and lack the tools to transition to low-carbon, circular production methods.
The solution
What was built
A sustainability index, an AI support tool for policy regulation, and a set of circular business model tools tested via 6 regional pilots.
Audience
Who needs this
Small fashion labelsTextile manufacturersCircular economy consultantsClothing recyclersSustainable apparel retailers
Business applications
Who can put this to work
Textile Supply Chain
anyTarget: Fabric Supplier
If you are a fabric supplier dealing with transparency requirements — this project developed tools for transparency and traceability that help you prove your materials are sustainable.
Retail
mid-sizeTarget: Fashion Retailer
If you are a fashion retailer dealing with new EU Green Deal laws — this project developed an AI support tool that helps you align your internal procedures with policy regulations.
Frequently asked
Quick answers
What is the cost or price of these tools?
Based on available project data, there is no information regarding the pricing or cost of the tools developed.
Can these solutions be used at an industrial scale?
The project tests solutions through 6 pilot cases across different regions, focusing on areas like recycling techniques and circular business models to ensure they work in real-world settings.
How is the IP or licensing handled for the AI tool?
Based on available project data, specific details regarding IP rights or licensing for the AI support tool are not provided.
How does this help with EU regulations?
It provides an AI support tool and a reference framework specifically designed to prepare MSMEs and SMEs for the European Green Deal policy regulations.
When will the tools be available for use?
The project runs from 2024-12-01 to 2027-11-30, suggesting that final tools will be refined by late 2027.
Consortium
Who built it
The project has a strong practical orientation with 20 partners across 8 countries. With a 30% industry ratio (6 industrial partners, including 5 SMEs), the consortium balances academic research from 3 universities with real-world application, ensuring the tools are grounded in the actual needs of small and medium fashion businesses.
How to reach the team
Contact Universiteit Antwerpen in Belgium
Next steps
Talk to the team behind this work.
Contact us to find out how to integrate these circularity tools into your supply chain.
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