A new EU Textile Strategy on its way
Photo: Textile ETP
The textile industry is a major player in the European Union's economy, but it also poses significant environmental and social challenges. From the massive amount of resources required to produce textiles to the disposal of textile waste, the textile industry has a significant impact on the environment. The average European throws away 11kg of textiles every year. European consumption of textiles has the fourth highest impact on the environment and climate change, after food, housing and mobility. Additionally, there are concerns about the working conditions and human rights of the workers who produce textiles, particularly in countries where labour laws are weak or poorly enforced. Further, the textile industry is one of the most unregulated in the EU, way less regulated than the food and transportation sector.
To address these challenges, the European Union is in the process of developing a new EU strategy for sustainable and circular textiles that aims to promote sustainability and responsible practices throughout the textile industry. It implements the commitments of the European Green Deal, the new circular economy action plan and the industrial strategy. The strategy is expected to address issues such as resource efficiency, circularity, and the promotion of sustainable fashion practices. It will also seek to address the social challenges associated with the textile industry, including fair wages, safe working conditions, and human rights.
Here are the objectives and 20230 Vision:
All textile products placed on the EU market are durable, repairable and recyclable, to a great extent made of recycled fibres, free of hazardous substances, produced in respect of social rights and the environment
”Fast fashion is out of fashion” and consumers benefit longer from high quality affordable textiles
Profitable re-use and repair services widely available
The textiles sector is competitive, resilient and innovative with producers taking responsibility for their products along the value chain with sufficient capacities for recycling and minimal incineration and landfilling
Actions by the Commission:
Set design requirements for textiles to make them last longer, be easier to repair and recycle
Introduce clearer information on textiles and a digital product passport
Empower consumers and tackle greenwashing by ensuring the accuracy of companies’ green claims
Stop overproduction and overconsumption, and discourage the destruction of unsold or returned textiles
Harmonise EU Extender Producer Responsibility rules for textiles and economic incentives to make products more sustainable
Address the unintentional release of microplastics from synthetic textiles
Address the challenges from the export of textile waste adopt an EU Toolbox against counterfeiting by 2023
Publish a transition pathway by the end of 2022 - an action plan for actors in the textiles ecosystem to successfully achieve the green and digital transitions and increase its resilience
The development of a new textile strategy is an important step towards creating a more responsible and sustainable textile industry in the European Union. By promoting sustainable practices and addressing social challenges, the strategy has the potential to create positive change throughout the entire textile supply chain, from the sourcing of materials to the production of garments to the disposal of textile waste. However, that doesn’t mean the strategy is perfect. Alice Bah Kuhnke among other members of the Green Party representing Sweden, elected for the EU parliament, means the strategy lacks social sustainability, human rights perspective, equality and a clear climate target among other things.
As the EU continues to work towards the implementation of the textile strategy, the parliament will now give their feedback to the commission about the strategy (there will be a debate and final voting at the end of May), it will be important to engage stakeholders from all sectors of the textile industry to ensure that the strategy is effective and equitable.
A Sustainable Closet is looking forward to see how the EU can become a global role model and leader for transforming the textile industry to a more sustainable one.
