The European project SOLSTICE, of which TEXFOR is a partner, has just published a specific page dedicated to the textile sector in Catalonia, on its official website. This new space is the result of a comparative study conducted in four European territories—Catalonia, Berlin, Grenoble, and Prato—and offers a clear and up-to-date look at the reality and challenges of our industry.
The page contains highly useful information for companies, institutions, and professionals. It provides a concise and visual understanding of how textile flows are managed in Catalonia: from production and employment to waste collection and treatment, as well as the consumer habits of its citizens.
In global figures, in Catalonia they are generated every year almost 155 kilotons of textiles, but only 13% of household waste is collected separately. Most of it ends up in landfills or incinerated. Furthermore, only 21% of what is collected is reused locally, demonstrating that there is significant room for improvement in moving toward a circular model.
The textile sector employs about 90.800 people, distributed in a balanced manner between manufacturing, marketing and end-of-life management activities of the products.
The analysis also identifies territorial differences within Catalonia. In the Barcelona metropolitan area and the coast, there are Hundreds of collection, repair or reuse points Less than 10 minutes by car, which makes it easier for the population to access circular services. In contrast, in inland areas, there are fewer than XNUMX points, and accessibility on foot is much more limited.
These data highlight the importance of continuing to expand and balance the infrastructure network throughout the country.
The SOLSTICE study also reveals how consumers behave in Catalonia. price It remains the main decision-making factor, especially among younger people, who are more influenced by external trends and pressures. This translates into less circular consumption.
Secondhand clothing still carries a social stigma, and repair services are underutilized. In contrast, older consumers tend to opt for longer-lasting garments and established brands. These data offer clear clues for designing awareness campaigns and marketing strategies more aligned with circularity.
The report outlines several lines of action to advance the transition:
The new website about Catalonia isn't just a data repository. It's, above all, An informative window to understand the present and future of the textile sector, which enables better-informed decisions, identifies innovation opportunities, and strengthens the industry's competitiveness.
Circle Economy, in collaboration with the Department of Territory, Housing and Ecological Transition of the Generalitat de Catalunya, carried out an analysis of the current state of the textile ecosystem in Catalonia, where increasingly widespread circular practices are already observed.
You can check the full page at this LINK.