Can Turkey Be A Hub For Closed-Loop Systems In the Textile Industry for the EU?

Abstract

The global textile industry, valued at $414 million, confronts substantial environmental challenges, contributing to waste, pollution, and greenhouse gases. This paper examines Türkiye's potential to drive sustainability in textiles, exploring circular systems that minimize waste and promote eco-friendly practices. The paper consists of seven parts. After introduction, in the second part the importance of sustainability and circularity in textile industry is explained. Third part examines the Türkiye as a major textile player, and the challenges of textile recycling industry. Overwhelming obstacles like insufficient recycling infrastructure require industry initiatives, government regulations, and technological innovations. Following parts explains the main limitations of the textile recycling in EU and questions if Türkiye, with its production capabilities and recycling expertise, could be a key ally for EU to solve the obstacles of current textile recycling challenges. Recommendation and Conclusion parts offer a road map for Türkiye to enhance its capabilities to become a key ally for EU, exemplifying a transformative shift towards a sustainable textile industry.