STAND Up! for the Sustainable Textile Action for Networking and Development of circular economy business ventures in the Mediterranean

7th January 2021 | Updated: 5th March 2021

STAND Up! is a new project funded by the European Union under the ENI CBC Med Programme focusing on the support to eco-innovative entrepreneurs and enterprises within the textile and clothing sector.
The project will provide a wide range of innovative solutions and tools - such as trainings, technical and design expertise, financial support, market opportunities, technology transfer solutions – with the aim to stimulate the creation and growth of enterprises and provide employment opportunities in the area, while reducing the environmental footprint of the sector.
Mediterranean countries involved: Egypt, Italy, Lebanon, Spain, Tunisia.
Around 200 start-ups and recently established companies will be directly involved in activities and benefit from the support of this project. Equal opportunities for women and young entrepreneurs (25-35-years-old) will be ensured.
Project activities started on 28th and 29th July 2020 within a partners’ kick-off meeting held online due to the developments in the Covid-19 pandemic.

Over the last 3 decades, numerous Mediterranean countries have emerged as textile and garment producers and exporters. Nowadays, the garment lifecycle closely links the regions of the Mediterranean Sea Basin, where textiles are produced, clothing manufactured and consumed and then disposed of or recycled.

The clothing industry has become strategic to the process of economic development of the area but serious concerns have been raised in terms of social and environmental side effects. It is one of the planet’s biggest polluters; the current system creates more greenhouse gas emissions than international flights and maritime shipping combined. The issue is doomed to get worse: global clothing production has doubled in the past 15 years and according to current forecasts, it will increase by another 63% by 2030.

Despite the priority given to sustainable consumption and production (SCP) in the policy agenda of the Mediterranean, various market and social challenges continue to hinder the shift towards more sustainable market patterns and to unlock economic opportunities along the value chain locally and nationally.

In light of these challenges and the opportunities a transition to SCP offers, the Sustainable Textile Action for Networking and Development of circular economy business ventures in the Mediterranean (STAND Up!) was created.

STAND Up! main goal is to support entrepreneurs and eco-innovative ventures in 5 Mediterranean countries, namely Egypt, Italy, Lebanon, Spain and Tunisia. To this end, STAND Up! will support 200 ideation-stage ventures and 20 early and growth stage ventures to develop and grow, ensuring stable employment and creating new jobs. Particular attention will be given to the inclusion of young entrepreneurs (25-35-year-old) and women. STAND Up! will also offer financial support, stimulate the market for eco-innovative products and services, trigger policy change and launch an awareness campaign about the importance of sustainable consumption and production.

STAND Up! is implemented by 7 partners, throughout the Mediterranean: