PROMOTING SUSTAINABILITY IN
THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY
THROUGH CROSS-BORDER
COOPERATION BETWEEN
COMPANIES IN THE
MEDITERRANEAN BASIN –
SUSTEXNET PROJECT
1st Newsletter of the project – February 2014
On the 1st of January 2014 SUSTEXNET project begun with a consortium of
8 partners representing the Mediterranean textile industry, business
sector, universities, technology centres and public administration. The
project led by AITEX has been designed to build a network of cooperation
between the main agencies within the Mediterranean basin textile
industry to improve competitiveness and sustainability in the textile value
chain.
SUSTEXNET project is part of the ENPI CBC Mediterranean Sea Basin
Programme. This is a cross-border cooperation (CBC) multilateral
initiative, funded by the EU under the European Neighbourhood
Partnership Instrument (ENPI).
SUSTEXNET is one of the 39 projects funded
under the last ENPI CBC Med call for
proposals, which received a total of 1095
applications. The project falls within
Priority 1.2, which aims to strengthen
economic clusters creating synergies among potentials of the Mediterranean Sea Basin
countries.
OBJECTIVE
With a duration of 2 years, SUSTEXNET will perform a detailed analysis of the current
weaknesses of textile sector on both shores of the Mediterranean, establishing
synergies among concerned actors to minimise the industry’s environmental impact
and to maximise its quality and productivity.
Why is SUSTEXNET different?
Because….
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An integrated approach has been taken covering every environmental and
economic aspect relating to the textile industry.
The experience of the partners involved in the project has been highly valued.
Representatives of different types of entities have been involved, including
manufacturers, public administration, universities, chambers of commerce,
associations and technology centres.
Tangible project results will be guaranteed by involving companies within the
textile value chain as end users.
There is already a strong link in the textile industry between northern and
southern Mediterranean countries.
MOTIVATION AND NEEDS
SUSTEXNET is a wide-reaching project consortium which promotes the textile value chain in
countries of the Mediterranean Basin to reduce the industry’s environmental impact.
Over the last ten years, the process of externalising production has grown considerably in
some countries, giving rise to important changes in the structure of the textile vale chain. In
addition, growing environmental awareness is forcing manufacturers to consider sustainability
as a key element in their production systems.
Each region presents its own problems and needs, depending on the economic situation,
competition, legislative differences and the evolution and development of the concerned
region. The main drivers of the project include the transfer of knowledge and the exchange of
best practices between northern and southern regions which will help to improve processes,
manufacturing technology and the use of new raw materials, as well as rationalising the use
and creation of resources and waste.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The main results expected from SUSTEXNET are:
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Reduction of environmental impact;
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Increased competitiveness;
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Efficient use of energetic/hydrological resources;
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Waste reduction and revalorisation;
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Specialisation of production;
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Product and process innovation.
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Promotion of transnational cooperation;
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Mobilisation of relevant stakeholders;
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Higher user awareness.
In which way will the results of SUSTEXNET be exploited?
The creation of a GUIDE TO BEST PRACTICES
16 IMPLEMENTATIONS in textile companies
4 TRAINING SESSIONS
1 ON-LINE TOOL with guidelines as to how to reduce environmental impact
PROJECT PARTNERSHIP
The SUSTEXNET consortium has a multi-disciplinary nature. Among the partners there is a wide
range of bodies and agencies, and participating countries include Egypt, Tunisia, Italy and Spain
represented by: the Confederation of Egyptian European Business Association (CEEBA),
Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI), Competitiveness Cluster of Monastir (MFCPOLE),
Textile Technical Centre (CETTEX), Artes Research (ARTES), Confindustria Bari and Barletta
(CONFINDUSTRIA), the Valencian Institute for Business Competitiveness (IVACE) and the
Textile Industry Research Association (AITEX).
Figure 1: SUSTEXNET project’s team
The project is made up of organisations with wide experience in research and innovation as far
as products and processes are concerned.
The majority of the organisations represent the textile industry but there are also partners
providing the project with a broader view of the industrial and economic situation within each
of the participating countries.
The partnership met on the occasion of the project kick-off meeting on the 12th and 13th of
February 2014 at AITEX’s headquarters. The event was attended by the partners’
representatives as well by staff of the ENPI CBC Med Programme.
Figure 2: Kick-off meeting
“SUSTEXNET project is part of the ENPI
CBC
Mediterranean
Sea
Basin
Programme.
This
cross-border
cooperation (CBC) multilateral initiative,
funded by the EU under the European
Neighbourhood Partnership Instrument
(ENPI), gathers 14 countries from both shores of the Mediterranean with a view to addressing
common challenges in fields such as support to economic clusters and SMEs, environmental
sustainability, enhancement of cultural heritage, people to people cooperation and local
governance. More information on the Programme is available @ www.enpicbcmed.eu”.
Project SUSTEXNET total budget is 1.488.299,16€ and it is financed, 1.339.406,24€ (90 %), by
the European Union (ENPI CBC Mediterranean Sea Basin Programme) through the European
Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument.
This publication has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union under
the ENPI CBC Mediterranean Sea Basin Programme. The contents of this document are the sole
responsibility of AITEX and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of
the European Union or of the Programme’s management structures.
The European Union is made up of 28 Member States who have decided to gradually link
together their know-how, resources and destinies. Together, during a period of enlargement of
50 years, they have built a zone of stability, democracy and sustainable development whilst
maintaining cultural diversity, tolerance and individual freedoms. The European Union is
committed to sharing its achievements and its values with countries and peoples beyond its
borders.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
APPLICANT:
ASOCIACIÓN DE INVESTIGACIÓN DE LA INDUSTRIA TEXTIL – AITEX:
Emilio Sala Square, 1 – 03804 Alcoy (Alicante -Spain) – www.aitex.es
Contacts:
Project coordination: Miriam Martínez([email protected]); Luis Miguel Pérez([email protected])
Technical Coordination: María Blanes([email protected]);Marcela Ferrandiz([email protected])
PARTNERS:
INSTITUTO VALENCIANO DE COMPETITIVIDAD EMPRESARIAL – IVACE:
P. Ajuntament, 6 - 46002 – Valencia (Spain) - www.ivace.es
Contact:
Francisco Ferrandiz ([email protected])
ARTES RESEARCH – ARTES:
Largo Santo Stefano Palazzo Severino 87040 Tarsia (CS) – (Italy) - www.artes-research.com
Contact:
Lilia Infelise ([email protected])
CONFINDUSTRIA BARI AND BARLETTA-ANDRIA-TRANI – CONFINDUSTRIA:
Via Amendola n.172/5 –70126 Bari (Italy) - www.confindustria.babt.it
Contact:
Giuseppe Di Cillo ([email protected])
CENTRE TECHNIQUE DU TEXTILE – CETTEX:
Avenue des Industries, Z.I Bir El Kassâa 2013 BEN AROUS -B.P 279 (Tunisia) - www.cettex.com.tn
Contact:
Slim Jamoussi ([email protected]); Imène Slama ([email protected])
PÔLE DE COMPÉTITIVITÉ MONASTIR EL FEJJA – MFCPOLE:
Grand boulevard du Lac, Immeuble BIAT, 2eme étage, 1053, les berges du lac – (Tunisia) www.mfcpole.com.tn
Contact:
Hedfi Nidhal ([email protected])
FEDERATION OF EGYPTIAN INDUSTRIES – FEI:
65 El Horreya Rd., In Front Of Alexandria Governorate, Alexandria (Egypt) - www.fei.org.eg
Contact:
Alaa Ezz ([email protected])
CONFEDERATION OF EGYPCIAN EUROPEAN BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS – CEEBA:
CCFE - General Consulate of France in Alexandria, 1 Ahmed Orabi Square, Mansheya (Egypt)
www.ceeba.org
Contact:
Marion Kussmann ([email protected])