tExtended Conversations Series: NARA-sk

Today we are bringing you a new episode of our Conversation series, where we meet project partners and we discuss together about their involvement in the project. This time we spoke with Dominika Fugger from NARA-SK, our Slovakian partner, who shared with us what she enjoys the most of tExtended and of working with our international partnership.

Thanks for speaking to us today. Could you start by introducing yourself and telling us where you are based?

Hello! My name is Dominika Fugger and I am an international project coordinator for National recycling agency of Slovakia. We are based in the middle of Slovakia, the heart of Europe, in the town of Zvolen. 

Can you tell us something about the task that you are specifically working on in tExtended?

We have two main tasks. 

One will be performing the replication potential study in our central-eastern part of Europe, mainly in the countries of Slovakia and Czech Republic. 

The other task is leading the development of the training materials targeted to cover the new emerging textile industries connected to textile sorting and recycling within the twin transition of the EU. 

What do you like the most about working on this project?

We really like the high level of professionality that runs throughout the project. Even during the preparation phase and continuously on, the management of the lead partner is outstanding, and it brings good cooperation and results. It connects various partners with different backgrounds and the project leader skillfully finds how each of the partners can contribute toward the common goal. 

What makes your organization ideal for participating in the research/activities of tExtended?

We have a considerable history in the field of Circular economy, and we are pioneers in this topic in Slovakia. We bring vision and solutions in the concept of regional hubs for circular economy to various platforms, we are members of working groups creating legislation bases for waste and circular management and we have extensive network of partners and collaborators based on the quadruple helix model of collaboration.  

We have participated in various national and ERASMUS+ project where we created Circular economy related educational materials.  

What do you see as the biggest challenge for tExtended?

The challenge we see is to unite on the basis of the European Union in the creation of new textile legislation on joint conclusions with other stakeholders and projects, that more than focusing on waste flows, we should focus on new sustainable product flows. 

What is one key thing you have learned from working on tExtended so far?

I have learnt that to set up a sustainable working industrial (textile) ecosystem requires collaboration of all its actors across the value chain, together with the policy makers and general public as end users. We all need to work towards the same goal and put the Planet before the Business. 

How would you describe tExtended with three words only?

Textile industry revolution 😊