The Professional Clothing Industry Association Worldwide (PCIAW®) is pleased to announce Mauro Scalia, Director Sustainable Businesses at EURATEX, as a keynote speaker at the PCIAW® Summit, Exhibition & Awards 2026, taking place at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London on 21–22 October.
Mauro will deliver the keynote presentation “The Regulatory Squeeze: EU Policy, EPR Directives & the Cost of Non-Compliance,” from 11:00am–11:30am.
With European sustainability legislation moving from policy development towards implementation, the keynote will examine the changing regulatory landscape for textiles and what new and emerging requirements mean for the professional clothing industry.
Bringing the European policy perspective to PCIAW®
As Director Sustainable Businesses at EURATEX, Mauro works at the intersection of European textile manufacturing, sustainability and policy.
EURATEX represents the interests of the European textile and apparel value chain, encompassing approximately 200,000 companies, €170 billion in turnover and 1.3 million workers across the industry.
Based in Brussels, the organisation engages directly with European Union policymaking, representing the textile and clothing industry as legislation is developed and helping its members understand the implications of new and evolving requirements.
This position gives Mauro a valuable perspective on both the direction of European policy and the practical implications that legislation can have for businesses operating across the textile value chain.
At the PCIAW® Summit, he will bring this insight directly to the professional clothing industry.
Understanding the regulatory squeeze
The European textile sector is entering a period of significant regulatory change.
Sustainability requirements are increasingly moving beyond voluntary environmental commitments and becoming embedded within legislation affecting how products are designed, documented, placed on the market and ultimately managed at end-of-life.
Mauro’s keynote will provide an overview of the state of play across some of the most significant legislation affecting textile sustainability and competitiveness, helping professional clothing businesses understand where European policy is heading and what these developments could mean for their operations.
A central focus will be the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), including emerging product requirements and the introduction of the Digital Product Passport (DPP).
For professional clothing manufacturers and suppliers, these developments will increase the importance of having access to reliable product, material and supply-chain information.
EPR and the future of textile responsibility
Extended Producer Responsibility will also form a key part of Mauro’s presentation.
As EPR frameworks for textiles develop across Europe, businesses will increasingly need to understand their responsibilities for products beyond the point at which they are sold.
Mauro will explore the direction of EPR harmonisation across Europe and what the changing framework could mean for organisations placing textile products onto European markets.
The discussion will also consider wider developments surrounding textile waste, eco-design and the treatment of unsold products as Europe seeks to accelerate the transition towards a more circular textile economy.
For businesses operating across multiple markets, understanding how these requirements interact will become increasingly important as sustainability regulation moves further into day-to-day commercial and compliance decisions.
Looking beyond sustainability legislation
The regulatory transformation facing the professional clothing sector extends beyond circularity and environmental performance.
Mauro will also provide an outlook on developing European policy surrounding product conformity and market surveillance, including proposals relevant to CE-marked products such as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Alongside this, the keynote will consider the direction of the forthcoming Circular Economy Act and how the broader European policy landscape could continue to shape textile manufacturing and competitiveness.
For organisations throughout the professional clothing supply chain, understanding these developments early provides an opportunity to prepare systems, product information and compliance strategies before new requirements take effect.
From policy to implementation
Mauro’s keynote directly reflects the theme of the PCIAW® Summit 2026 – “The Implementation Phase.”
As new sustainability and product requirements progress from legislative development towards implementation, professional clothing businesses must increasingly translate regulatory obligations into practical changes across design, sourcing, manufacturing, data management and end-of-life strategies.
Through EURATEX’s direct engagement with European textile policy, Mauro will provide attendees with an industry perspective on the legislation shaping this transition and the key developments businesses need to understand.
Mauro Scalia will deliver “The Regulatory Squeeze: EU Policy, EPR Directives & the Cost of Non-Compliance” from 11:00am–11:30am at the PCIAW® Summit, Exhibition & Awards 2026.
The event takes place at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms, London, on 21–22 October 2026.
