PERFORMANCE DAYS is creating a new home for sustainability collaboration. With the launch of the Sustainability Exchange, the leading sourcing platform for functional fabrics, yarns, accessories and textile innovations expands its role beyond material sourcing, offering a dedicated space where expertise, innovation and practical solutions come together to support the textile industry’s sustainability transition.
The Sustainability Exchange will debut on October 13–14, 2026, when PERFORMANCE DAYS returns to Munich for its largest edition to date. Expanding across three exhibition halls for the first time, the event continues to evolve into a platform that connects sourcing, innovation and industry knowledge.
Combining expert insights, interactive learning and real-world applications, the new format brings together brands, suppliers, innovators, certification bodies, NGOs and legislative experts to exchange ideas, discuss emerging challenges and develop practical solutions together. “Sustainability is no longer a specialist topic. It affects every company, every product and every supply chain. Navigating the changing sustainability landscape starts with bringing the right people together.
The Sustainability Exchange is designed to be a home for sustainability professionals across the textile value chain, where brands, suppliers and solution providers can work through these challenges together instead of tackling them in isolation.” Anna Schuster, Head of Sustainability
PERFORMANCE DAYS Turning legislation into action
With new regulations such as the ESPR, Digital Product Passport and EUDR reshaping global supply chains, sustainability is becoming an increasingly strategic business topic.
The Sustainability Exchange helps visitors translate regulatory requirements into practical solutions by bringing together leading organizations working across certification, compliance, circularity, traceability and responsible sourcing. Among the first confirmed participants are bluesign®, Control Union, Fashion for Good, Global Standard, Hohenstein, RETRAKT and China Textile Recycling. Together, they represent key areas of expertise across certification, innovation, quality assurance and circular textile systems, providing visitors with direct access to some of the industry’s most influential organizations.
Sustainability Stage: From insight to implementation
At the heart of the Sustainability Exchange is the Sustainability Stage, where leading experts, brands and organizations translate today’s most pressing sustainability challenges into practical business insights. The program explores the latest European and international legislation, biodiversity as a business opportunity, circular textile systems, biosynthetic material innovations, sustainability data, repairability and consumer communication. One program highlight, From Complexity to Compliance, sees Control Union and Peterson Solutions demonstrate how companies can navigate increasing regulatory complexity by combining independent certification with strategic sustainability expertise, helping businesses strengthen compliance while preparing for future market demands. Best-practice examples from leading brands and organizations complete the program, ensuring visitors leave with practical knowledge they can immediately apply within their own sustainability strategies.
Workshop Tables: Collaboration in action
Complementing the stage program, the Workshop Tables invite visitors to take part in smaller, interactive sessions designed to encourage dialogue and hands-on learning. Together with industry experts, participants will explore topics including certified product development, human rights due diligence, circularity assessments, biodiversity in textile supply chains and practical approaches to meeting evolving regulatory requirements. Rather than traditional presentations, the workshops create space for discussion, peer-to-peer exchange and collaborative problem-solving.
Repair Service: Demonstrating circularity in practice
Another practical highlight of the Sustainability Exchange is the Repair Service, delivered in collaboration with Second Ascent. Throughout the event, damaged garments will be professionally repaired on-site, demonstrating how extending a product’s lifespan contributes directly to circularity and resource conservation. More than simply showcasing repair techniques, the initiative illustrates how thoughtful product design, craftsmanship and repairability are becoming essential elements of future-proof textile development and circular business models.
With the Sustainability Exchange, PERFORMANCE DAYS continues to evolve beyond a sourcing event, creating a platform where materials, innovation and knowledge come together to shape the future of performance textiles.
SAVE THE DATE PERFORMANCE DAYS October, 13-14, 2026 Messe München Halls A4-A6 www.performancedays.com