SOLSTICE's territory profile: Berlin
The global textile industry is only 0.3% circular, with over 99% of its 3.25 billion tonnes of annual material use coming from virgin sources. Fibre consumption per capita has nearly doubled since 1975 and continues to rise, while most discarded textiles are still landfilled or incinerated. This unsustainable system drives severe environmental and social impacts. The circular economy offers a pathway forward through strategies like reduce, reuse, repair, and recycle.
The SOLSTICE project, funded by the EU’s Horizon Europe programme, aims to tackle the textile industry’s challenges by piloting circular solutions in Berlin, Grenoble, Catalonia, and Prato. In collaboration with local partners, Circle Economy conducted a comprehensive analysis of each territory’s textile ecosystem—covering material flows, employment, consumer behaviour, and environmental impact—to guide tailored circular interventions.
In Berlin, the fashion-forward and sustainability-conscious culture supports a growing ecosystem of second-hand shops, repair services, and upcycling initiatives. However, barriers like low awareness, cost perceptions, and underused services hinder full circular potential. The city’s strong infrastructure and community engagement offer a promising foundation for advancing textile circularity.
