The “Green Deal Strategy” report published by TGSD, one of the umbrella organizations of the apparel industry, highlights that investment levels in the textile and apparel sector demonstrate that Türkiye’s production infrastructure is among the strongest supply hubs in Europe. According to a report by Yener Karadeniz for Ekonomim, the report says the Turkish textile and apparel industry invested a total of USD 78.17 billion over the last 15 years, with USD 22.1 billion allocated to machinery and equipment and USD 23 billion to building investments. The report also underlines that the industry must now transform not to expand capacity, but to preserve its existing position. It notes that sustainability is no longer a matter of choice but a fundamental requirement for survival, emphasizing that the countries and companies that achieve compliance first will emerge as the winners of the new era.
“Europe is no longer importing products, but data”
The report states that in the new era, price and quality alone will no longer be the determining factors for every product sold to Europe. Information such as the raw materials used in production, carbon footprint, chemicals used, recyclability rate, and supply chain data will also have to be shared digitally. The report points out that Europe is now “importing data rather than products.”
Warning that the widespread perception among Turkish manufacturers that “EU regulations do not apply to us” poses a major risk, the report notes that European brands are transferring their legal obligations throughout the supply chain via contractual arrangements, effectively making Turkish manufacturers part of these responsibilities. It therefore stresses that not only European brands but also Turkish manufacturers supplying them must become auditable in areas such as human rights, environmental compliance, carbon data, and social compliance.
Addressing the U.S. market as well, the report notes that growing scrutiny of forced labor practices and an increase in greenwashing lawsuits in recent years have rapidly intensified demands for transparency and traceability. In this context, “verifiable data” is emerging as the common denominator of both the European and U.S. markets.
According to the roadmap announced by TGSD, the sector’s transformation will take place in three stages. During the first phase, covering 2026–2027, the main areas of focus will be carbon measurement, the Digital Product Passport, and supply chain compliance initiatives. The second phase, spanning 2028–2030, will accelerate the integration of circular economy practices. In line with this roadmap, the objective is for Türkiye to become Europe’s most reliable, transparent, and sustainable textile and apparel sourcing hub after 2030.