- The online webinar “CirCoAx by CircularInnoBooster Demo Day” held last Thursday, 12 January, brought together for the last time the partners and beneficiaries of the project, who presented the results obtained since they started this adventure in March 2022.
- With a duration of 2 years and a budget of 1,128,000 euros, 75% co-financed by the European Commission, the CirCularInnobooster project successfully promotes proposals that contribute to moving towards a sustainable, circular and regenerative industry.
Opportunities, innovative proposals and a sense of community were the protagonists of the online webinar “CirCoAx by CircularInnobooster Demo Day”, held on Thursday 12 January. A telematic event that put the highlight on the CirCoAx by CircularInnobooster project, where some of the partners and beneficiaries promoted some of the proposals they are working on and that contribute to mitigate the climate impact of the textile industry.
David Allo, Sustainability Director at TEXFOR – another CirCoaX partner – opened the event talking about ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) criteria in the textile sector. Then, Pablo Barrios, Eu Project Officer at Finnova and moderator of the event gave way to Victor Torrent, Fundraising Manager Spain at CrowdCube and Juanma Revuelta, CEO of Finnova, who offered a holistic view, based on their experience, of the financial alternatives that startups such as CirCoax beneficiaries can benefit from.
“Initiatives such as NextTexitleGeneration are committed throughout this financial period (2021-2027), and until 2030, to continue creating the greatest number of projects that contribute to the sustainability and circularity of the textile sector,” said Juanma Revuelta, “An initiative that aims to inspire and generate new synergies between public and private entities that through good management of European funds help to reduce the climate impact of the textile sector,” he concluded.
After providing relevant information to the beneficiaries, they took the floor to start the second block, a round table in which they presented their innovative proposals to contribute to the circular and sustainable transition of the textile sector.
Laurence Depond of SDE was in charge of opening the block, and assured that SDE “only launches products that have an ecological design strategy”, thus making known the company’s involvement in mitigating the environmental impact. An impact that Infinite Athletic helps to reduce with the “60% reduction in energy consumption and 48% less CO2 emissions, according to the Bcome study” said Isaac Nogues, co-founder of the company, during his speech.
“We are in the top 5 BCorp companies” boasted Paula Cristóbal, partner of Sepiia, winner of #CirCoAx StartUp Europe Awards, which thanks to its 100% organic fabric initiative has managed to position itself as one of the leading companies in the circular and sustainable transition of the textile sector.
Francesc Solá from Hilaturas Jesús Rubio and Sam Issa from Nano Textile Solutions presented the ecological materials they have been developing during the CirCoAx period, products that, like the shirts made from DeleiteWear‘s discarded fabrics or the “ecoprene” equipment developed by NEWEX, provide consumers with sustainable textile alternatives. To end this block, Silvia Grau, creator of Pigmentalia, showed how it is possible to reduce the waste of water involved in the pigmentation of textile products”.
Natalia Cediel, Communication Mentor of circular economy, was in charge of closing this webinar, in which the beneficiaries of the CirCoAx by CircularInnobooster project demonstrated what they have achieved thanks to their participation in this programme, where the transition towards a circular, sustainable, regenerative and green economy in the textile sector is closer than ever thanks to their innovative ideas and products.
About COSME
COSME is the Competitiveness of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises programme of the European Commission’s Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME).
Through this programme, assistance is provided to SMEs to help them develop their business models, access finance, and internationalise. It also supports public administrations in improving the business environment and facilitating economic growth in the European Union. During the 2014-2020 funding period, this programme earmarked €2.3 billion to support SMEs.
About IED
Istituto Europeo di Design is an academic institution operating in the field of education, training, and research in the disciplines of design, fashion, visual communication, and management. IED has branches in Spain (Madrid and Barcelona), Italy (Milan, Rome and 5 other cities) and Brazil (São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro). It operates in several EU and
COSME countries through partnerships and agreements with institutions, business support organisations, teachers, experts, and mentors. IED is based on a wide network of connections in the F&T (Fashion and Textile) sector.
About Finnova
Finnova is a foundation working for the promotion and development of innovation and entrepreneurship at EU level. Based in Brussels, it operates through collaborations and partnerships in all EU countries. Finnova’s expertise in leading European project communication and dissemination activities is combined with a strong proven track record in start-ups and business support programmes, such as accelerators, incubators and selection and award ceremonial events.
About Texfor
Texfor is the textile association of reference in Spain with 400 members. Founded in November 2010 and based in Catalonia, it brings together companies from the entire textile value chain, from yarns to fabrics through accessories, finishing processes, printing, and dyeing for the garment industry, home textiles and technical / industrial applications. Texfor has expertise and experience, having worked in important expert committees at EU level: university and vocational training, financial capacity building, transversal collaboration, promotion of R&D&I, specialised services, and leadership in sustainability with a focus on the circular economy.
About Circulab
Circulab is a laboratory and business design studio specialising in the development of methodologies, tools, and transformation programmes to help companies develop circular and sustainable business models. Circulab has designed a set of tools to implement the circular economy model in companies. It operates in more than 23 countries, 9 of them in the European Union, supporting projects through more than 60 independent business consultants, applying the circular methodology and tools.
About The Circular Project with HumanNation
TCP (The Circular Project) supports and promotes circular and sustainable fashion in different areas, offering the fashion industry a communication strategy based on a crosscutting and systemic approach to the circular economy. TCP combines social, ethical, environmental, and economic aspects, and has a strong presence and connections in the world of sustainable fashion. TCP has promoted the Circular Sustainable Fashion Week in Madrid, a unique event of its kind, and acts as the headquarters of the Spanish Association for Sustainability, Innovation and Circularity in the Fashion Industry. TCP is also an ambassador for Sannas (Triple Bottom Line Business Association) and has collaborated with a wide range of Spanish, European and Latin American institutions, and companies. The Circular Project is working with Human Nation to co-design and develop CirCoAX. HumanNation is a consulting firm specialising in the development of innovation ecosystems and transformative and disruptive companies for the “new economy”. It is based on the fourth economic sector, systems thinking and co-creation. It sensitises organisations and ecosystems to respect planetary boundaries and the social fabric, creating resilient local economies with a global perspective.
