Nordic-Baltic Textile Circularity Forum 2026 to Focus on Scaling Circular Solutions
How can textile circularity solutions move beyond isolated pilots and become part of a functioning circular system? This will be a central question at the Nordic-Baltic Textile Circularity Forum 2026, scheduled to take place in Riga on 7–8 October 2026.
The two-day event will bring together tExtended, a Horizon Europe-funded project focused on systemic transformation in textile circularity across Europe, and the Nordic-Baltic Textile Circularity project, a regional initiative supported by the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Offices in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
Addressing Textile Circularity at System Level
The Forum comes as Europe continues to address the growing challenge of textile waste. Less than 1% of textiles globally are currently recycled into new textiles, highlighting the need for broader systemic action beyond collection and recycling.
The event will examine how circularity can be strengthened across the entire textile value chain, including product design, consumption, reuse, collection, sorting, recycling, markets and policy.
Policymakers, businesses, waste-management and reuse organisations, researchers, innovators, investors and civil society representatives will gather to discuss existing solutions, remaining barriers and the conditions required to scale circular textile models.
tExtended to Present Four Years of Research
The programme on 7 October will focus on the work of tExtended and its four-year programme of research and innovation. The project will present practical solutions and digital tools developed across different stages of the textile value chain.
Discussions will also address the systemic changes required to significantly reduce textile waste in Europe, including pathways linked to tExtended’s ambition of achieving an 80% reduction in textile waste.
On 8 October, the focus will move towards the Nordic-Baltic region, covering the current state of textile circularity, emerging circular businesses and technologies, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and opportunities for stronger regional collaboration.
Connecting Innovation with Scale
Pirjo Heikkilä, Principal Scientist at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, highlighted the importance of connecting existing technologies, business models and practical examples to create conditions for wider adoption.
The Forum is designed to provide a platform for European research and innovation to interact with Nordic-Baltic experience, helping stakeholders identify progress, remaining gaps and the next steps required to accelerate circularity.
Exhibition and Speakers’ Corner
Alongside the conference sessions, participants will be able to explore an exhibition showcasing practical circular textile solutions.
The exhibition will feature outcomes from tExtended as well as innovations developed across Nordic and Baltic countries. A dedicated Speakers’ Corner will also provide projects, start-ups and innovators with an opportunity to present their technologies, services and circular approaches directly to Forum participants.
Participation in the Nordic-Baltic Textile Circularity Forum 2026 is free, although places are limited and registration is required.
The Forum is also supported by the Riga Investment and Tourism Agency (RITA) and Lindström.
