Circular Wallonia-Textile value chain: feedback on raising awareness of LCA in the Belgian textile industry

The European Union (EU) is actively pursuing a circular economy strategy, part of which involves assessing and reducing the environmental footprint of products throughout their life cycle. A key initiative in this regard is the development of the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) methodology. This is designed to provide a standardised means of measuring and communicating the environmental performance of products or processes. Different sectors are directly concerned, including the textile sector as in the "PEFCR Apparel and Footwear". In some countries, such as in France, the environmental labelling on clothing becomes mandatory (since October 2025).
In Belgium, Wallonia has three ambitions: a social ambition, an environmental ambition and an economic ambition. The roll-out of a circular economy will contribute to achieving these three ambitions. It is in this context that the present project is being carried out, as a part of a broader entitled: "Environmental impact assessment in the Walloon textile and plastics industry", and concerns its "textile" part.
Centexbel and Liège University (Chemical Engineering) have proposed to join forces to support Walloon manufacturers in the textile sector in implementing measures related to environmental impact assessment. Various initiatives have been offered (for free!), including a one-day introduction to environmental assessment and environmental communication, and two-days of introduction to LCA (theory and practice).
Among the tasks envisaged, the completion of five life cycle analyses for Walloon companies in the textile sector were planned, including proposition to improve their environmental footprint on the basis of the results. Even if these LCA were proposed for free too, only four companies have expressed interest amongst all those contacted by Centexbel and public announcement on social medias: Sioen (non-woven for cure in place pipe), Deltrian (industrial filters), Utexbel (flame retardant fabrics) and Depoorter (innovative recyclable carpets). In addition, a "Bilan Carbone" has been externalised and realised for two of these companies.
Our ambition is to present the feedback from trainers and attendees on the seminars and courses , the synthetic results of the four LCA, but also the reflexions on the lack of motivation (we can even talk of reluctance) of companies to get involved in this type of free initiative.
Funded by the Walloon Region in the frame of the Circular Wallonia strategy.