Femnet e.V.

Sustainable textile purchasing for the private sector

Learning snacks: videos

As part of the Fair Wear Works project, there is a web seminar series on the topic of 'Sustainable impulses for textile purchases in sports and health care'.

The interactive web seminars not only offer insights from experts on various textile purchasing topics, but also promote the exchange of experience between the participants. The contents of the web seminars are presented here as "learning snacks" and can be 'looked up'

 

Learning snack 1:
"Heat-resistant textiles - materials for a more sustainable tomorrow"

Against the background of advancing climate change, heat protection is becoming increasingly important in the context of work and leisure. By purchasing sustainable textiles, you can not only contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollution worldwide, but at the same time protect your employees with breathable and temperature-balancing properties of the textiles.

In the first web seminar of the "Fair Wear Works" project, everything revolved around heat-resistant textiles and the advantages and disadvantages of selected new fibers. As an expert in sustainable textiles, Bettina Faust, project manager at the Global Nature Fund, answered the following questions: What makes heat-resistant textiles? Which materials protect against heat and are at the same time sustainable? And how can heat-resistant and sustainable textiles be identified?

Preparation of the webinar of 16.04.2024

 

Learning snack 2:
"A look into the future: Opportunities & challenges of textile-to-textile recycling

Together with Dipl. Jürgen Broker, project manager at the ITA Institute for Textile Technology at RWTH Aachen University, discusses the possibilities and challenges of textile-to-textile recycling. The new EU legislation now obliges the textile and clothing industry to recycle its own waste. >

Effective recycling of old textiles requires forward-looking technologies that can sort them according to their material composition and process them into new yarns. We ask ourselves in the context of what relevance textile-to-textile recycling can have with regard to an eco-social transformation, which processes are actually used in the recycling of textiles and what needs to be considered in textile sorting.

Preparation of the webinar from 04.07.2024

 

Learning snack 3:
"From old to new: Resource old textiles"

Against the background of extended producer responsibility, which will take effect as a measure of the EU strategy for sustainable and circular textiles from 1 January 2025, the topic of collecting and sorting old textiles is becoming more and more relevant in practice.

We therefore ask Petra Schweiger: What is the status quo in the collection and sorting of old textiles? Which sorting technologies are already available on the market and what are their advantages and disadvantages? What awaits us in the future? How is Textile Collection 2.0? And: What can already be considered today when purchasing workwear and sports textiles in order to contribute to more circularity of textiles?

Preparation of the webinar of 17.10.2024

 

Learning snack 4:
"Indicators for sustainable textiles: The most important seals and sustainability standards in comparison"

Together with our expert Kenza Podieh, we take a close look at important sustainability standards and textile seals and take a close look at how they deliver on their promises. Because of their large number, it is not always easy to keep track of which seal or standard now covers which stage of the supply chain or what exactly is certified.

We therefore ask ourselves the following questions: What criteria should be taken into account when evaluating textile seals and sustainability standards? What textile seals and sustainability standards are there and how do they compare to each other? And how can textile seals and sustainability standards be applied sensibly?

Preparation of the webinar from 05.12.2024

 

Learning snack 5:
Dangerous fibers? Use of chemicals in the textile industry and effects on the environment and people"

In this 5th Webinar in the series #FairWearWorks goes digital we focus on the use of chemicals in textile production and are looking for practical solutions. This is because chemicals harmful to health and the environment are widely used in the textile and clothing industry: Whether at the stage of fibre production, textile production and finishing, use and reuse, chemicals are ubiquitous throughout the product life cycle. Currently, public attention is particularly focused on PFAS chemicals.

Together with our expert Alexandra Caterbow, co-director and co-founder of HEJSupport, we discuss three key questions:

• What are the hazardous chemicals used in the production of synthetic and natural fibres and why?
• How and with what consequences do the chemicals enter the environment and the human body?
• Which textile seals and sustainability standards help to select safe textile products?

Preparation of the webinar of 20.05.2025

 

Learning snack 6:
"Packaging in the textile industry: From Necessary to Sustainable

Packaging is essential in the textile and clothing industry: They ensure hygiene standards, protect textile fibres and influence the customer's purchasing experience. At the same time, however, they are the focus of growing criticism. High resource consumption and increasing packaging waste pose major challenges for the industry. Under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), companies are now held responsible for their packaging waste. The aim is to increase recycling rates, reduce waste volumes and promote more sustainable packaging solutions.

We ask ourselves together with our Expert Lavinia Muth, (Un-)Sustainability Consultant and Chairwoman of the FEMNET Board, against this background: What do we mean when we talk about packaging? What are the different types of packaging used in the textile and clothing industry and what are the challenges associated with them? Are there sustainable alternatives and how do I recognise them?

Preparation of the webinar from 03.07.2025