Sectoral Trade Delegation from Aegean Textile Manufacturers to the Netherlands
Aegean textile manufacturers who want to comply with the European Union Green Deal, the most comprehensive sustainability programme in the world, are increasing their competencies with P&D projects supported by the Ministry of Trade.
Aegean Textile and Raw Materials Exporters’ Association member 18 companies clustered in the “Development of Sustainable Competitiveness in the Textile Sector P&D Project”. Receiving consultancy under 4 headings, Aegean textile manufacturers are organising a Sectoral Trade Delegation to the Netherlands to cover the dates 15-19 September 2024 within the scope of overseas marketing activities.
The European Green Deal aims for a carbon-neutral Europe by 2050. Although Turkey is not a member of the European Union, it must comply with the Green Deal and harmonise its exports accordingly. Turkey’s major market is the European Union. In this period intence competition, where prices remain much higher then competitors, circular textiles and green transformation are the most important topics that will give Turkey an advantage.
“We will See Good Practice Examples on Site”
Jak Eskinazi, Coordinator President of ITHIB
ETHİB’s Sectoral Trade Delegation to the Netherlands includes visits to companies that implement good practices in circular textiles and the Circular Textile Days event. Jak Eskinazi, Coordinator President of Aegean Exporters’ Associations and President of Aegean Textile and Raw Materials Exporters’ Association, stated that the companies participating in the ‘Development of Sustainable Competitiveness P&D Project’ will have the opportunity to see good practice examples on site.
Underlining that the textile and ready-to-wear sectors are among the top 5 sectors that need to comply with the European Union Green Deal, Eskinazi said; “Our aim with this trade delegation is to increase our competitiveness in this direction by adapting the circular economy conditions that protect the environment in the world to the companies. The world is feeling the effects of climate change more and more every day. We need to take steps together to eliminate carbon emissions in the world by 2050. For this reason, we have to increase the circularity in the textile sector at the maximum level. For this purpose, within the scope of the ‘P&D Project for the Development of Sustainable Competitiveness in the Textile Sector’, we received four consultancy services under the titles of Energy Efficiency Consultancy, Combating Climate Change / ISO 14064 Corporate Carbon Footprint Management Consultancy, ISO 14001 Environmental Management Consultancy and Life Cycle Analysis Consultancy with the participation of 18 companies. Within the scope of overseas marketing activities, we will see good practice examples on site with the Sectoral Trade Delegation to the Netherlands.”
“We finished what the world offered us in 2024 on 1 August”
Eskinazi informed that the World Limit Exceeding Day, which shows us the day we consume the resources that the world has and that we can use for 1 year, corresponds to 1 August, 2024 and emphasised that if we consume at this rate, humanity needs 1.7 worlds, and since this is not possible, it is inevitable that the circular economy will gain strength in the world. Eskinazi continued as follows: “World resources are limited. We cannot consume at this rate. In the textile sector, recycling facilities are concentrated in Uşak in the Aegean Region. We endeavour to increase these successful examples.”
Eskinazi reminded that Turkey exports 30 billion dollars annually in the textile and ready-to-wear sectors and added that the European Union is the main market in the textile and ready-to-wear sectors and that it is their priority homework to fulfil the conditions set forth by the EU Green Deal in order to maintain our position in the EU market and to take sustainability steps strongly.
