Welcome to our magazine - your essential guide for staying abreast of the latest and ongoing trends in the social economy sector.
In this edition, we explore the social and environmental influences of the textile industry, investigating initiatives and projects that can boost a more inclusive and respectful fashion industry. Here you can find tools, articles, resources and much more related to the last SE trends
We are thrilled to present the fifth edition of Social Economy Insider – dive in to discover insights into social economy trends, policy updates, research, and much more
INDEPENDENT AND AUTONOMOUS
Social Economy Insider emerged from the writing of the baSE project, but it aims to transcend its boundaries and become an independent and sustainable entity that unites different actors in the social economy sector
We would like to invite you all to contribute to the SE magazine by sharing your thoughts and insights on the latest trends and developments in the field Your contributions can take the form of articles, case studies, interviews, podcasts or any other format that you feel would be engaging and informative for our readers.
Send us an email at baseproject4skills@gmail.com
ECO‑SOLUTIONS IN FASHION
Their importance, the role of Sustainable Product Design, and Material Innovations
Author: Robert Dzięgielewski from FISE
The fashion industry is at a crossroads: facing mounting environmental challenges, it must reinvent itself through sustainable design and innovative materials. From water-intensive cotton production to the growing threat of microplastics, the impact of fashion in our planet is undeniable. Yet, solutions exist: eco-friendly fibers, circular business models, and systemic design thinking are paving the way for a future where style and sustainability go hand in hand.
Even at the level of basic raw materials, the scale of challenges is striking: producing a single cotton T-shirt requires about 2,700 liters of water, equivalent to one person’s drinking water needs for 2.5 years[1].
Dyeing and finishing processes account for 20% of global freshwater pollution, while CO₂ emissions linked to textile production and consumption in the EU average 355 kg per person annually, comparable to driving a car for 1,800 kilometers[2].
Despite this awareness, the material cycle remains largely linear: only about 1% of clothing is recycled back into new garments using primary fiber recycling[3]. The scale of the problem does not end at production and consumption. Washing synthetic fabrics releases microplastics - up to 700,000 microfibers per wash end up in oceans[4].
The sector’s transformation toward sustainability encounters technological, market, regulatory, and social barriers. One of the most serious problems remains overproduction. The fast fashion model relies on frequent collection turnover and impulsive consumption, generating millions of tons of textile waste annually.
This is why the emphasis on eco‑solutions in fashion is not just a branding exercise but a systemic necessity.
Solutions must cover the entire ecosystem: from raw materials through design, production, and logistics to use and disposal. The designer’s role is fundamental80% of a product’s environmental impact is determined at the design stage[5]. In practice, this means decisions about construction, material selection, modularity, repairability, and disassembly dictate later energy and water use, chemical inputs, emissions, and whether the product can be repaired, resold, recycled, or safely composted
Recent years have seen an acceleration in material innovation, showing real alternatives within reach. Biopolymers made from methane, developed by companies like Mango Materials, enable fibers with controlled lifespans and improved environmental profiles
Mycelium-based textiles, pioneered by Ecovative, offer lightness, durability, and biodegradability while significantly reducing the carbon footprint compared to animal or petrochemical counterparts.
Estimates suggest such solutions can cut emissions by up to 50% compared to traditional leather, while shortening value chains and eliminating some high-emission processes[6].
For this we have to focus on scaling material innovations designed for recycling, while moving from declarations to verifiable standards and audits to curb greenwashing and rebuild trust. And lastly, boost business models that reward durability and repairability rather than sales volume [9].
INTERVIEW
Can you share one project or product where circular design principles made a real difference – environmentally or socially?
Combining the ideas of zero waste production, environmental education and desing thinking, Zeroban Social Cooperative implemented the project “Youth for School and the Environment” as part of the EcoFuture program led by InvestGDA, engaging students from two high schools in Gdańsk. The students used upcycled advertising materials to create school seating accessories, which are now used by the entire student community. These seats not only improve comfort during breaks but also foster social interaction and strengthen community bonds.
The aim of the project was to raise environmental awareness among young people, participating in workshops that allowed them to practically apply the principles of circular economy. The project, while providing education, mentoring, and support, highly inspired the participants to take proecological actions in their daily lives
How do material choices shape your design and production decisions?
Zeroban specializes in the upcycling of advertising materials such as banners, both PVC and textile, roll-ups, and workwear.
These materials, often with a short lifespan, are transformed into durable products, saving water and energy that would otherwise be required to produce new materials. As a result, Zeroban not only reduces waste but also contributes to lowering CO₂ emissions associated with the production of new fabrics. In this way, Zeroban’s projects are aligned with the principles of a circular economy, promoting material reuse and waste minimization.
How does your work support fair employment, inclusion, or local communities?
Zeroban is actively involved in supporting local communities by providing employment opportunities for people from marginalized groups. Through the projects with local educational institutions, such as primary schools, highschools, or public retirement homes, we support the development of local residents’ skills and promotes social inclusion within municipal grant programs from the Gdańsk Funds database.
One example is the “Prosto Siostro” project, which promotes female empowerment and the spirit of sisterhood. Furthermore, Zeroban collaborates with the Foundation for Professional Activity of People with Disabilities (FAZON) and PSONI Bizon, organizing internships and study visits that allow participants to learn about social economy practices and good cooperative management examples.
What are the biggest challenges you face in applying sustainable design at scale, and what support is most needed from policymakers or partners?
The need for public education on sustainable development and access to relevant technologies are significant barriers. In addition, one of the key challenges is educating corporate businesses about commercial cooperation with social economy entities such as Zeroban. Companies are often unaware of the benefits of partnering with social and environmental organizations - both in terms of corporate social responsibility and the added value in sustainable development.
p f pp f j p p e with disabilities, whose productivity may be lower compared to employees with no special needs. Funding such positions not only promotes social inclusion but also enables the implementation of projects with high ecological and social value that would otherwise be difficult to sustain under market conditions.
BY COMBINING BUSINESS EDUCATION, REGULATIONS ENFORCING CIRCULAR PRINCIPLES, AND SUPPORT FOR EMPLOYEES FROM EXCLUDED GROUPS, IT IS POSSIBLE TO CREATE A STABLE ECOSYSTEM OF COOPERATION BETWEEN BUSINESS AND THE SOCIAL ECONOMY.
This, in turn, accelerates the implementation of sustainable solutions and positively impacts local communities.
One of the main challenges in applying circular design principles on a large scale remains the lack of appropriate legal regulations and financial support for pro-ecological initiatives. Policymakers should support tax incentives, grants and introducing legal regulations that would require reporting on circular economy activities and applying circularity principles in material circulation, that would significantly facilitate the establishment of new business partnerships for the Cooperative and circular economy projects.
URGENT ACTION NEEDED TO ADDRESS THE EU’S TEXTILE CRISIS
Open Letter to the EU27 Deputy Ambassadors and national governments
RREUSE is sounding the alarm about the worsening crisis in the used and waste textile sector, urging action in an open letter to national governments and EU27 Deputy Ambassadors.
With the EU mandate for separate textile collection coming into force in January 2025, the used-textile sector is under acute pressure.
Many Member States are unprepared: collection systems are underdeveloped or underfunded, and social enterprises (which collect, sort, reuse, repair) already face capacity overload, saturated markets, and lack of downstream recycling or reuse options.
As a result, reusable textiles are being incinerated or discarded, sorting centres are at risk of collapse, and the infrastructure built over decades is threatened.
The letter calls for an EU-wide emergency response that protects and strengthens existing reuse and recycling infrastructure. It urges the mobilisation of transitional funding from EU and national instruments to bridge the gap until Extended Producer Responsibility schemes are fully operational. Support should prioritise social enterprises and local reuse networks that employ and train vulnerable workers, recognising their essential role in the circular economy.
RREUSE also stresses the need for EPR and state-aid frameworks that can rapidly channel resources to the sector, alongside measures to safeguard existing reuse capacity and avoid backsliding on circular goals. Ultimately, the message is clear: Europe must act now to preserve its social and environmental fabric literally and figuratively.
EUROPE’S USED-TEXTILE SYSTEM IS ON THE BRINK OF COLLAPSE
CHECK MORE HERE
HOW SHOULD THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY BE ORGANISED IN FRANCE IN THE FUTURE?
The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme dedicated to textiles, household linen, and footwear (TLC in French, THF in English) was established in 2009, based on the polluter pays principle and drawing on solutions initially developed by the social and solidarity economy (SSE).
The SSE sector remains the predominant actor in this second-life industry for clothing, textiles, and footwear, managing more than 70% of the collection and sorting of used items and reusing more than half of them.
Given their central role in this sector in France, social and solidarity economy organisations and specialists developed a paper putting forward a constructive vision for its future, based on interdependent principles.
Firstly, the SSE sector calls for two key principles:
Increase all eco-contribution amounts to fully cover the costs of reforming the sector - both to sustain current operations and to enable the necessary investments for its transformation.
Ensure the preservation of local, non-relocatable jobs in the Textiles, Linen, and Footwear (THF) sector across the regions by refusing to grant the eco-organisation an operational role in the collection and sorting of used textiles.
ETHOS FASHION TOOL RESOURCES
A self-assessment tool developed by the EcoFashionEU project aimed to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the textile, ready-made clothing, and fashion sectors With the Ethos Fashion Tool, companies can assess how mature they are regarding the integration of sustainability principles and practices, corporate social responsibility, and responsible entrepreneurship into their strategy and operations.
BENI
Beni is a free browser extension for online secondhand shopping that intercepts online shopping searches and directs users to the same or similar products on leading resale marketplaces
Currently, they supports 500 retail sites.
CORNER
SAVE YOUR WARDROBE
Save Your Wardrobe is an AI-powered wardrobe management app. Users catalogue their existing wardrobe contents and receive styling suggestions based on what they have to minimise the need for new purchases. The app also connects to service partners that offer laundry, repair or tailoring services.
They have partnered with Zalando to connect customers to product aftercare services in the German market. Starting in 2021, the two companies trialed a booking service system where Zalando customers could book repair, alteration or cleaning services The service is initially only available in Berlin and Dusseldorf
CIRCULARX
CircularX showcases a collection of various cases, including different types of business models, circular economy strategies and experimentation practices, under Fashion, clothing and textiles They are meant to serve as an inspiration for circular business model experimentation in different organisational contexts
MEET THE PRACTITIONERS
We introduce you to a captivating section showcasing the remarkable endeavours of social economy practitioners across Europe. We delve into the inspiring stories and innovative practices that are reshaping our societies for the better. Join us as we uncover the transformative power of social economy initiatives, highlighting the individuals and organisations that are making a profound impact on their communities.
FAIRKAUF EG
A success story of social participation and environmental sustainability.
Founded in 2008 in Hanover, Germany, the social-cooperative Fairkauf eG provides job training, employment perspectives and social participation for people that have trouble finding regular work.
The first store has been placed in the center of the city within one of the plenty abandoned commercial buildings and sells donated second hand clothes and household products, e g electronics, toys, furniture, etc
Fairkauf eG is a good example of a Social Economy Organization that combines explicit social and environmental goals with a sustainable, stand-alone business model.
The success of this model during the last years lead to the opening of seven additional branches in and around Hanover
This year the cooperative also received the GenoAward 2025 in the category “Stronger together: Cooperative social engagement” for its exemplary work in addressing social and economic challenges
ECOCINIX
EcoCinix is first textile recycling factory in Western Romania. After learning, in 2022, that textile waste pollutes more profoundly than plastic and an extremely neglected market segment in the country, they wanted to make a real change: EcoCinix was born, a circular design and textile recycling company that transforms textile waste from factories into new, high-quality recycled fibers.
Their process is mainly mechanical recycling: they collect, sort, and shred discarded textiles down to the fiber level Then, using state-ofthe-art machinery and their team of chemists and textile engineers, they test and customize fiber compositions (density, texture, blend ratios) to meet each partner’s technical or aesthetic needs
They create certified recycled fibers that can be used across 5 industries, from fashion and furniture to automotive, construction, geotextiles and toys
Each collaboration involves:
1.Consultation - identifying the company’s material requirements
2.Analysis & Testing - developing and testing fiber prototypes
3.Production - delivering tailor-made recycled fibers ready for manufacturing.
Thanks to an automated, high-capacity production line (100+ tons/month), EcoCinix offers sustainable and lower-cost fibers, without compromising on performance or compliance with textile waste legislation.
OPYA FASHION
Design from Coffee Sacks and Textile Waste
OPYA Fashion is a bold initiative developed by ADV Romania Group through its social enterprise UtilDeco. The brand transforms used coffee sacks from Opya Coffee Roastery in Iași and textile waste into smart avantgarde clothing and accessories, designed in collaboration with renowned Romanian designer Irina Schrotter
This extraordinary partnership highlights a joint commitment to sustainability, local community support, and social innovation. The launch of OPYA Fashion was part of a wider investment in a new facility for Opya Coffee Roastery, where circular economy practices and green energy are now integrated into the production process.
From fast fashion to sustainable fashion
The philosophy behind OPYA Fashion stands in contrast to the global fastfashion industry, which is responsible for high pollution and waste By reusing coffee sacks and textile waste, OPYA challenges consumers to rethink their choices and embrace sustainable alternatives. Every product becomes a statement that fashion can be both creative and ethical.
Social innovation and inclusion
OPYA reflects the mission of ADV Romania and its social enterprise UtilDeco – a protected unit dedicated to employing people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups OPYA Fashion proves that innovation in design can go hand in hand with inclusion and social responsibility, creating value both for people and for the environment.
Source: SEE portfolio
To mark Social Economy Week (16–18 September 2025), Social Economy Europe co-organised the Social Economy European Summit in Murcia, the 2025 Spanish capital of the social economy.
The event brought together over 600 participants from across Europe and showcased the resilience and innovation of the social economy in addressing today’s challenges through high-level discussions, field visits, network collaboration and collaborative workshops, closing the week on a forward-looking note.
At the heart of this major gathering was our high-level political conference ‘Implementing the Social Economy Action Plan’ (SEAP), which united key institutional and ecosystem actors to assess the implementation of the SEAP and explore future policy directions.
Source: SEE portfolio
Source: SEE portfolio
HIGHLIGHTS
- Meeting of the European Parliament Intergroup on the Social Economy and Services of General Interest, with Co-Chairs Maravillas Abadía and Ignazio Marino, and Vice-President Irene Tinagli in attendance.
- Social Economy Awards, to highlight initiatives that put people before profit.
- Key players supporting the social economy, contributing to discussions, highlighting the importance of joining forces to advance the SE and the SEAP implementation
Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for the Social Economy
Members of the European Parliament
Representatives from the European Economic and Social Committee
Delegates from 11 member states
For more information on the Summit and to read recaps from the event, visit our Summit webpage.
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DISCLAIMER
The information and opinions expressed in this magazine are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views or endorsement of the publication, its editors nor the European Commission All content, including articles, reports, media and images, is provided for informational purposes only Readers are encouraged to verify any information and consult with the mentioned authors, where applicable, before making decisions based on the content of this magazine.
This magazine is a product of the baSE project, co-funded by the European Commission For more information about the baSE project, please visit www socialeconomyskills eu The collection of materials for this magazine has been led by Diesis Network, with Giulia Georg and Jakub Snop serving as the main editors and providing support in gathering materials and content from all the baSE partnership organisations
For inquiries, please contact: Social Economy Insider www.socialeconomyskills.eu https://www linkedin com/showcase/base-project/ baseproject4skills@gmail com
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