On 16 and 17 December, the Textile Trade Association – Textile Cluster (TTA–TC), a partner of the VERDEinMED project, hosted the 5th VERDEinMED Steering Committee Meeting and the 2nd VERDE Academy in Skojpe, which were held at the premises of the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia. The event was organised within the framework of the VERDEinMED project and aimed to strengthen cooperation among project partners and relevant stakeholders, while supporting the transition toward a circular economy in the textile sector.
The two-day event included an internal working meeting of the project partners, focused on reviewing the project’s progress, assessing achieved results, and coordinating the next activities in view of its successful completion in 2026. As part of the event, the 2nd VERDE Academy event was also held, co-organised by TTA–TC and DIADYMA SA, with a focus on municipal practices for the reuse of clothing.
VERDE Academy: advancing textile reuse
The VERDE Academy event was dedicated to the development and implementation of textile reuse practices through the establishment of reuse centres, the development of circular business models, and alignment with the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles, as well as the Waste Framework Directive. Through knowledge exchange and discussion, the Academy addressed opportunities for strengthening local capacities and highlighted the role of public authorities, operators, and the creative sector in this transition.
During the first part of the event, presentations were delivered by Chrysovalantis Ketikidis, Project Manager at CERTH and VERDEinMED coordinator; Katerina Giannakoula, Environmental Expert, MSc, from DIADYMA SA – Department of Ministry & Programs; and Aleksandra Atanasovska, RU READY Project Manager at the Public Enterprise “Komunalec” Bitola.
As a continuation of the two-day event, a workshop was held, during which the Macedonian legal framework and legislation related to textile waste management were presented, including their alignment with European regulations and the implications for municipalities. In addition, the activities of collective textile waste management schemes were presented, together with current practices and infrastructure, as well as innovative approaches for community engagement. The workshop also featured presentations on design practices within the circular economy, with a particular focus on the social impact of upcycling fashion.
Presentation were delivered by Marijana Perkovska, President of the Textile Trade Association – Textile Cluster; Ana Karanfilova Mazneva, Head of the Waste Management Department at the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning; Evgenija Najdoska, Manager of the Producer Responsibility Organisation at TEKSOMAK; and Irina Tosheva, fashion designer, who addressed circular practices and the social impact of upcycled fashion. The event was moderated by Natasha Sivevska, Executive Director of the Textile Trade Association – Textile Cluster and Project Manager of the VERDEinMED project.
The event enabled a constructive exchange of experiences and practical insights, while strengthening cooperation among institutions, public enterprises, collective schemes, and the creative sector, contributing to the development of a more sustainable, circular, and functional textile waste management system.
