Technical Seminar #22: Scaling Up Circularity: Collaborative Approaches to Post-Industrial Textile Waste Management

In 2024, with the support of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and H&M Foundation, the Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) launched the Upstream Circularity Playbook. The Playbook, available in 6 languages, is a pragmatic guide offering best practice examples to establish and scale post-industrial textile waste management practices and circular approaches in garment manufacturing countries in Asia. The report aims to inspire and motivate public and private sector actions, including a wide range of stakeholders from manufacturers, brands, retailers, policymakers and investors, to implement and support upstream circularity. 

The session is aimed at industry professionals and policymakers to raise awareness of upstream circularity, discuss challenges and solutions and the Playbook, and invite comments and ideas for its successful application. Participants will gain insights into textile waste strategies, policy frameworks, and technological advancements that drive circularity practices in production countries. 

Speakers

Ola Bakowska

Senior Circular Economy Strategist, Circle Economy Foundation

Ola, a designer turned innovator with 8+ years in sustainability, leads the Circle Economy Textile Programme. Her work spans Europe, Southeast Asia, and the USA, driving circular business models through design thinking, pilots, and policy recommendations, with key projects including ‘Sorting for Circularity’ and the Global Circular Fashion Forum.

Abdur Razzaque

Managing Director, Recycle-Raw Ltd

Abdur Razzaque, Managing Director of Recycle-Raw Ltd, leads Bangladesh’s first compliance textile waste management company. Focused on sustainability, he works to streamline the textile waste supply chain, improve sorting processes, and collaborate with global partners to promote recycling and drive progress toward a zero-waste future.

Kristin Sommer 

Team Lead Environment and Due Diligence, FABRIC Asia, GIZ

Kristin leads Environment and Due Diligence for GIZ FABRIC in Cambodia, with over 10 years of experience in sustainability, focusing on textiles, environmental stewardship, climate action, and circularity. She previously worked with an international NGO and global consultancy.

Léa Mocheff

Sustainability and Public Affairs Coordinator, Global Fashion Agenda

Since joining Global Fashion Agenda in January 2024, Léa Mocheff has been actively contributing to the organisation’s public affairs activities and publication efforts, leveraging her prior experience in European public affairs and environmental matters.

Moderator

Samantha Diouf

Strategy consultant

Registration

This technical seminar is part of the Asian Dialogues series, which aims to bring together industry enthusiasts and representatives – from brands, suppliers, workers, civil society, and government bodies from Asia and beyond. This event series was initiated by GIZ FABRIC with the goal of connecting these stakeholders and fostering knowledge exchange across the industry.