The Monitor for Circular Fashion (M4CF), part of the Sustainability Lab at SDA Bocconi School of Management, presented its 2026 Circular Fashion Manifesto at the European Parliament in Brussels on 30 September, during a one-day event co-organised with CNA Federmoda and CNA Bruxelles.

Bringing together companies, industry associations, institutions, researchers and other stakeholders, the initiative provided an opportunity to discuss how circularity can become an increasingly concrete driver of competitiveness and resilience in the fashion industry.

The event marked the next step in a process that began with the first Pledge to UNECE, named the Circular Fashion Manifesto in 2021, and has progressively developed into a platform for sharing knowledge, identifying good practices and encouraging collective action across the fashion value chain. As in previous editions, the Manifesto builds on the commitment of M4CF partners to advance traceability, transparency, sustainability and circularity, also formalized in a Pledge to European Commission DG GROW and published on the EU Textiles Ecosystem Platform.

A future and foresight perspective

The 2026 programme introduced a futures and foresight perspective, recognising that the transition towards circular fashion requires companies to anticipate changes in technologies, markets, consumer behaviour and value-chain structures.

The future literacy workshop highlighted a clear transition pathway for addressing unsold products across the fashion value chain. Participants identified several barriers that currently hinder the effective prevention and management of unsold stock, including information gaps, fragmented responsibilities, power imbalances and limited ecodesign practices.

At the same time, technological innovation, interoperable data, stronger value chain partnerships and targeted training and awareness emerged as important enablers.

Looking towards 2030-2035, participants envisioned a system centred on extended product lifetimes, greater transparency and shared accountability, supported by circular business models and digital technologies.

“The ban of destruction of unsold products entered into force on 19 July 2026 is an urgent priority for the industry. Data collection, data sharing and value chain partnerships are the foundations of any effective strategy to prevent and manage unsold products. The future of fashion will depend on our ability to translate these strategies into circular business models that extend product lifetimes, strengthen shared accountability and drive competitiveness and resilience across the sector”, claimed Francesca Romana Rinaldi, Director of the Monitor for Circular Fashion.

The Circular Fashion Manifesto 2026 presents a framework for the management of unsold goods with 28 strategies with KPIs to set concrete goals and measure the implementation.

The framework explores how companies can move from a reactive approach to unsold inventory towards more structured strategies for prevention, management and value creation, involving different actors across the entire circular fashion value chain: from ecodesign and raw material sourcing to manufacturing, logistics, retail and end-of-life.

It combines a set of macro-strategies, including value-chain collaboration, data collection, offer rationalisation, resale, donation, repairing, upcycling and reuse, with specific strategies and KPIs to help companies monitor and reduce the unsold stock.

The Monitor has also contributed to the JRC consultations, bringing the perspective of the fashion industry into the ongoing European discussion.

The results of the M4CF working tables were presented by representatives from Marco Guazzoni, Sustainability Director Vibram, Dario Casalini, CEO Maglificio Po/Oscalito 1936, Simon Giuliani, Global Marketing Director Candiani Denim, Francesca Pilla. Retail & Consumer Goods Manager BIP, and Silvia Vela, Manager Bip.Verco Sustainability, showcasing experiences and approaches to circularity from different parts of the fashion value chain.

Continuing the dialogue with European stakeholders

The Brussels event also provided an opportunity to discuss these themes with European stakeholders, connecting the experiences of Italian and European organisations with the broader debate on the future of the fashion ecosystem. Representatives from European institutions, industry associations, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and the Italian public sector contributed with different perspectives to the discussion, highlighting the importance of collaboration across the value chain.

Stefano Soro, Head of Unit for Sustainable Products & Textiles at the European Commission’s DG GROW, delivered a keynote on the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and the textile, clothing, leather and footwear (TCLF) sectors, providing an institutional perspective on the evolving European framework for sustainable products.

Alessia Musumarra, CNA Bruxelles Head of office and Antonio Franceschini, CNA Federmoda National Director, together with Caterina Mazzei, Circular Economy and Sustainability Representative of CNA Federmoda contributed to the discussion on circular supply chains, shared responsibility and strategic alliances. The dialogue also included contributions from Giorgia Di Giovanni, Division III, Directorate-General for Industrial Policy, Industrial Reconversion and Crisis Management, Innovation, SMEs and Made in Italy, MIMIT, Mauro Scalia, Director Sustainable Businesses EURATEX, Edoardo De Paola, Secretary General COTANCE and Mariagrazia Berardi. EEN Project Manager Enterprise Europe Network-CNA Lombardia and Catherine Fragnay, Junior Policy Advisor Climate / Energy / Environment Policy SMEunited, bringing perspectives from national institutions, European industry associations and MSMEs networks.

The event also provided an opportunity to announce the next M4CF Multi-Stakeholder Event, which will take place at SDA Bocconi on 22 February 2027 and feature the presentation of the M4CF 2026/2027 scientific report.