Proyecto SEDA - Sustainable Sericulture

Circular Economy and Sustainability in the Fashion Industry

Buenos Aires
,
Argentina
|
September 10, 2019
ADELANTE Programme: Triangular Cooperation European Union Latin America and the Caribbean

With the aim of inspiring innovative ideas and knowledge about circular economy strategies, German specialist Marina Chahboune gave a conference in Buenos Aires, at the INTI auditorium, on 6 September 2019, within the framework of the SEDA Project, with the European Union's financial support through the ADELANTE Triangular Cooperation Programme.

More than 80% of the clothes discarded worldwide end up in landfills, mainly because they are not produced to last, be reused and biodegrade or are not compatible with existing recycling streams. One factor having a direct impact on the manufacture of "disposable" garments is that the fashion market has grown from two to 24 collections per year.

"To reverse this situation, we must change the way we manufacture and consume, so we can not only reduce pollution but also recover materials and resources," said German consultant Marina Chahboune, at the beginning of the talk on "Circular Economy and Sustainability in the Fashion Industry" held at the INTI auditorium. The expert presented a series of strategies for efficient waste management and responsible production.

Chahboune also pointed out that although circular production is not applicable to all products equally, the spaces to develop it must be assessed. The three central axes on which she recommended working are: reducing the production of waste from design (taking into account that 80% of the impact on the environment is generated in this phase), reusing resources at the highest possible value and trying to return the materials used to the environment.

The expert shared a series of international examples of circular economy: from expandable children's clothing (which can be used from 9 to 32 months), to sneakers that biodegrade in a few weeks and clothing brands that rent out garments to their clients. Regarding the latter case, she explained that "they propose a new concept of ownership, because it is the brand that retains possession of the garment and manufactures excellent quality clothing so that it can be used several times".

The lecture was delivered within the framework of the "Contribution to the reduction of regional poverty in Latin America and the Caribbean, through sericulture with a sustainable approach and added local value" Project, promoted by INTI with the financial support of the European Union. During the mission, the expert also met with local entrepreneurs of the textile industry and then traveled to Brazil to meet with other experts of the sector and to give two seminars at the Maringá State University, a partner entity of the Seda Project, and the Federal Technological University of Paraná.

The opening ceremony was led by the person in charge of the Operational Management of Industrial Services, Engineer Javier I. Piazzese, the Deputy Manager of Institutional Relations, Mrs María Eugenia Suarez, and the Technical Coordinator of the Silk Project, Engineer Patricia Marino, who highlighted that the circular economy implies two very important axes to be worked on: (i) collaboration (because companies must work in cooperation with their suppliers and customers) and (ii) innovation (to develop new processes and products).

Technical experts and representatives of partner entities of the Seda Project participated in the event, as well as textile designers and artisans from the Latin American and Caribbean Region to learn about best practices in sustainable production and design.
 

Workshop: transition towards a circular economy

Within the framework of Chahboune's advisory mission, a workshop was held on Thursday 5 September 2019 with designers, production professionals and managers of textile clothing companies, at the Argentine Industrial Chamber of Clothing. The day included a first theoretical part on the steps towards the development of a production based on the guidelines of the circular economy, and a second part in which the attendees interacted with the expert presenting innovative products and solutions to be implemented in their production lines.