Promoting EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles through Interdisciplinary Education

Abstract

The textile industry represents a significant sector in the European Union, employing 1.5 million people with an annual turnover of EUR 162 billion. However, this vital industry faces substantial sustainability challenges, particularly regarding environmental impact and resource consumption. The EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles, developed under the European Green Deal framework, aims to transform the sector while maintaining competitiveness. This paper presents a strategic approach for implementing the EU’s circular textile vision through the EUSusTex project, supported by the European Commission under the Jean Monnet Module Activity. The study examines how interdisciplinary education and stakeholder engagement can facilitate the transition to a more sustainable and circular textile industry. Through a structured framework, we analyze the current state of the textile industry, environmental challenges, and implementation strategies for education and industry collaboration. The project demonstrates the effectiveness of integrating theoretical knowledge with practical experience through a 16-week course offered to undergraduate students from various disciplines. Initial results show increased awareness and interest in sustainable textile practices across disciplines. The findings suggest that implementing circular textile strategies requires a coordinated effort across multiple stakeholders, with education playing a central role in this transformation. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.