Denmark’s newly published plan is the result of broad collaboration across business groups, government, knowledge institutions and civil society. It establishes a unified framework to support a shift towards circularity in textiles, focusing on sustainable practices and competitiveness.
The plan arrives as the EU introduces stringent requirements concerning product documentation, design standards, marketing claims, and producer responsibility, developments expected to affect the entire textile sector.
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In an interview with Copenhagen International Fashion Fair (CIFF), Marie Busck, chief sustainability officer at DM&T and chair of the Action Plan’s steering group, described the initiative as a response to long-standing industry calls for strategic direction.
“First and foremost, we need to get more out of fewer textiles. Textiles are an essential part of our everyday lives, but they also have a significant impact on the climate and the environment. That’s why we need to come together around a shared framework that can help drive the transition towards a more circular textile sector,” Busck explained.
Industry associations including DM&T, the Lifestyle & Design Cluster, and TRACE co-developed the Action Plan, bringing together expertise from every stage of the textile value chain.
According to Busck, this collective approach is vital because the sector’s global complexity means change cannot be driven by any one group alone.
The initiative includes both a steering group and an advisory group to capture wider perspectives and expertise.
A key focus of the plan is supporting Danish companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, in navigating the growing body of EU regulation.
“There is already a great deal of new legislation affecting the industry, and things are moving quickly. And this will only become more apparent in the years ahead, as new EU legislation introduces new requirements in areas such as documentation, design, marketing and producer responsibility,” Busck added.
The plan acknowledges the challenge in aligning environmental goals with the industry’s traditional dependence on volume sales.
Busck said: “The climate and environmental footprint of textiles is significant, which is why we need to reduce both textile consumption and production. The industry needs to find new, circular ways of doing business, because this will become an increasingly important competitive factor in the future.”
By 2029, the Action Plan aims to ensure Danish companies, public institutions and civil society have the partnerships, skills and infrastructure needed to support a circular textile economy.
Busck expressed hopes that Denmark will become a European leader in implementing circular textile solutions.
The National Action Plan for Textiles is now available to the public and is intended to serve as an evolving guide as the sector responds to regulatory, environmental, and market shifts over the coming years.
