United Nations Environment Programme
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Conference
World Circular Economy Forum 2024
15 - 18 April 2024
Brussels, Belgium
- Overview
- Schedule
The annual World Circular Economy Forum (WCEF) presents the world’s leading circular economy solutions, with business leaders, policymakers, and experts participating from around the world. Circular economy approaches can help businesses seize new opportunities and gain a competitive advantage, as well as contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Held since 2017, WCEF is a global initiative of Finland and Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund.
The World Circular Economy Forum 2024 event will be organised on 15–16 April 2024 at the SQUARE Brussels Meeting Centre. Being one of the key organising partners, UNEP demonstrates a commitment to circular solutions by promoting global conservation initiatives and sustainable practices.
Who's speaking
Elisa TondaChief, Resources and Markets Branch United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP
Hilde van DuijnManaging Director Circle Economy
Josefien van de VenDirector of International Affairs Ministry of Infrastructure and Water, The Netherlands
Nanno MulderChief, International Trade Unit United Nations’ Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
Naresh TyagiChief Sustainability Officer Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail
Oliver BoachieSpecial Advisor to the Minister, Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology & Innovation, Ghana
Omar HameedEconomic Minister Pakistan Embassy Brussel
15 Apr 2024
Time & Place
Event Details
09:30
SQUARE Brussels Meeting Centre
Building sustainable solutions for used textiles trade
UNEP, in collaboration with the Circle Economy Foundation, will address the challenges posed by the global used textile trade.
While clothing production has approximately doubled in the last 15 years, the number of times a garment is worn before being discarded has decreased by 36%, exacerbating environmental degradation and socio-economic concerns. The global movement of used clothes, frequently with unclear destinations for recycling, reuse, or resale, emphasizes the need for greater transparency and knowledge of the effects of its lifecycle.
Circular textile business models present a promising solution, with the potential to improve health and the environment while simultaneously boosting the world economy by up to US$700 billion. This workshop explores the dynamics and impacts of increasing global trade of used textiles, identifies pathways, collaborative approaches, and enabling policy conditions to make that trade more circular. The workshop will also share examples of initiatives which advanced the sustainability of used textiles. At the session, UNEP will launch its new project, 'Circularity and Used Textiles Trade'. The project, which has support from the European Union, aims to use rigorous scientific methods to contribute to putting "fast fashion out of fashion".Central to its objectives are establishing data-driven, science-based global guidelines to discern used textile products from waste.
In addition, the project will foster dialogue platforms to disseminate its findings, engaging stakeholders across trade, environmental, textile, and circular economy domains.
While clothing production has approximately doubled in the last 15 years, the number of times a garment is worn before being discarded has decreased by 36%, exacerbating environmental degradation and socio-economic concerns. The global movement of used clothes, frequently with unclear destinations for recycling, reuse, or resale, emphasizes the need for greater transparency and knowledge of the effects of its lifecycle.
Circular textile business models present a promising solution, with the potential to improve health and the environment while simultaneously boosting the world economy by up to US$700 billion. This workshop explores the dynamics and impacts of increasing global trade of used textiles, identifies pathways, collaborative approaches, and enabling policy conditions to make that trade more circular. The workshop will also share examples of initiatives which advanced the sustainability of used textiles. At the session, UNEP will launch its new project, 'Circularity and Used Textiles Trade'. The project, which has support from the European Union, aims to use rigorous scientific methods to contribute to putting "fast fashion out of fashion".Central to its objectives are establishing data-driven, science-based global guidelines to discern used textile products from waste.
In addition, the project will foster dialogue platforms to disseminate its findings, engaging stakeholders across trade, environmental, textile, and circular economy domains.
Hilde van Duijn
Managing Director Circle Economy
Josefien van de Ven
Director of International Affairs Ministry of Infrastructure and Water, The Netherlands
Omar Hameed
Economic Minister Pakistan Embassy Brussel
Oliver Boachie
Special Advisor to the Minister, Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology & Innovation, Ghana
Nanno Mulder
Chief, International Trade Unit United Nations’ Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
Naresh Tyagi
Chief Sustainability Officer Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail
Elisa Tonda
Chief, Resources and Markets Branch United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP
