This November has been an exciting and action-packed month for NACTR as we had the honor of presenting at three major conferences focused on sustainability, recycling, and community-led initiatives. Our team members shared valuable insights and unveiled new tools designed to support textile reuse and recycling efforts across Canada. From the WRANS Conference to the CWRE and RCA events, we highlighted our mission of fostering sustainable practices through community involvement.
RCA Conference (October 31 – November 2, 2023)
At the RCA Conference, Tonny Colyn shared insights into Empowering Communities: Best Practices for Leading Textile Reuse Initiatives. Tonny highlighted key case studies from NACTR’s Canadian Community-Led Reuse Initiative and discussed best practices for launching and sustaining textile recycling programs. She also explored how municipal resources and community partnerships can play a critical role in advancing textile reuse, reducing waste, and supporting sustainable development.
CWRE Conference (November 7, 2023)
Sara Hicks represented NACTR at the CWRE Conference, where she introduced attendees to NACTR’s Community-Led Initiative Toolkit. Her presentation, Empowering Communities: Unveiling the Ultimate Toolkit for Launching and Sustaining Charitable Textile Recycling Programs, showcased the strategies and benefits of implementing community-led recycling programs. By focusing on sustainable practices and social impact, Sara emphasized how local communities can drive meaningful change through textile reuse. The toolkit itself offers a comprehensive resource to help organizations, non-profits, and municipalities start and maintain effective textile recycling programs.
WRANS Conference (November 7-8, 2023)
At the WRANS Conference, Tonny Colyn and Charlotte Genge presented on Cultivating Best Practices in Community-Led Textile Reuse. The session focused on NACTR’s Canadian Community-Led Reuse Initiative and offered practical case studies on how municipalities and communities can promote large-scale textile reuse efforts. They also discussed the vital role of municipal actions in managing textile waste and encouraged local leaders to take proactive steps in fostering a sustainable, circular economy.
Key Takeaways from These Conferences:
Throughout these events, one message has been clear: community involvement is at the heart of sustainable textile management. Whether it’s through empowering municipalities to implement best practices or providing local organizations with the tools they need to lead textile reuse initiatives, NACTR is committed to fostering a circular economy where textiles are reused, repurposed, and kept out of landfills.
These conferences provided us with the opportunity to showcase our Community-Led Initiative Toolkit, share valuable insights on textile recycling, and connect with other leaders in sustainability. We look forward to continuing our work with communities across Canada to promote sustainable practices and support charitable textile recycling programs.
Thank you to all the organizers and attendees who made these events such a success!
Stay tuned for more updates and insights from NACTR as we continue our mission to make a positive impact through textile reuse and recycling.
