TRACE joins consortium behind Denmark’s National Action Plan for Textiles

Together with Lifestyle & Design Cluster (LDC) and Dansk Mode & Textil (DM&T), TRACE is part of the consortium that will head the development of Denmark’s National Action Plan for Textiles (NHPT). With a total allocation of DKK 40 million (2025–2028) ) from The Danish Environmental Protection Agency , the plan will create the framework for a circular and future-proof textile sector.

Three tracks – one coordinated effort

The action plan is structured around three main tracks:

1. Circular transition of the industry: supporting companies in meeting increasing EU regulatory requirements and developing new business models.

2. Circular infrastructure: building national systems between public and private actors to promote resource savings, reuse, and recycling.

3. Textile literacy and skills development: strengthening knowledge, repair, and reuse among Danish citizens through education, networks, and nationwide campaigns.

With its research and innovation capacity, TRACE contributes to the consortium by bringing systemic perspectives, collaboration experience, and impact measurement expertise into the process.

Voices from the consortium

“The development of Denmark’s National Action Plan for Textiles offers great opportunities if we work together – researchers, businesses, civil society, and public authorities. At TRACE, we are eager to drive real collaboration and innovation so Denmark can lead the way in Europe and show how a circular transition can succeed in practice,” says Anette Juhl, Director of TRACE.

Else Skjold, Work Stream Lead for textiles at TRACE, adds:
“The action plan will scale textile knowledge upbuild in Denmark across all stakeholders and the wider Danish society. With its vision and collective elements the action plan will work as driver for a new path that unites all interests and can shape common ground, with science based targets and inclusive processes all along.”

Marie Busck, Chief Sustainability Officer at Dansk Mode & Textil, says:
“Since DM&T launched the political proposal for a national action plan for textiles, this has been our goal. We were very pleased when the plan was included in the Finance Act, and it is fantastic that we now stand in such a strong partnership, able to launch initiatives that will provide both society and the industry with a holistic lift in the textile field.”

Betina Simonsen, Director of Lifestyle & Design Cluster, adds:
“The action plan brings together the entire Danish textile industry in an ambitious, coordinated effort. From businesses and authorities to research institutions and civil society. Our shared ambition is to create a common compass that points the way towards a future-proof textile sector based on circular innovation, responsible consumption, and sustainable value creation.”

Strategic significance

The NHPT will be a key instrument for translating the EU textile strategy into concrete results in Denmark and a launchpad for realising TRACE’s North Star: a regenerative circular economy by 2050, where resources are kept in circulation and the textile sector creates value within planetary boundaries.

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For inquiries related to this article

Anette Juhl, Director (aj@trace.dk | +45 2160 4041)