EU has announced its new strategy for sustainable and circular textiles. Advancing towards greater sustainability of the textiles ecosystem requires deep changes in the currently prevailing linear way in which textile products are designed, produced, used, and discarded, together with reducing its impacts on climate change, unsustainable resource use and environmental pollution, and halting the violation of human rights in the textile value chains.
The transition to a sustainable and circular textile industry, in synergy with a strong digitalization and social fairness agenda, can help the sector recover from the COVID-19 crisis, enhance its resilience for the future and strengthen its competitive sustainability, and contribute positively to addressing the climate and biodiversity crises and social injustice. The Commission invites EU institutions and bodies to endorse this Strategy and calls on the Member States, the entire value chain, and international partners to commit to resolute and concrete action for its implementation.
The new Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles aims to create a coherent framework and a vision for the transition of the textiles sector whereby
“By 2030, textile products placed on the EU market are long-lived and recyclable, to a great extent made of recycled fibers, free of hazardous substances, and produced regarding social rights and the environment. Consumers benefit longer from high-quality, affordable textiles, fast fashion is out of fashion, and economically profitable re-use and repair services are widely available. In a competitive, resilient, and innovative textiles sector, producers take responsibility for their products along the value chain, including when they become waste. The circular textiles ecosystem is thriving, driven by sufficient capacities for innovative fiber-to-fiber recycling, while the incineration and landfilling of textiles are reduced to the minimum.
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The strategy change is important to know for the textile sector of Pakistan as it is one of the prominent exporters to the EU. The adaptation to circular textile is becoming the need of the hour. TEXtalks International is organizing the upcoming Inspiring Change Conference (ICC 2022), going to be held on 31 August in Lahore, Pakistan, and will focus on circular economy and sustainable textiles.
The event could provide a suitable platform for the local textile sector to understand the importance of the circular economy and the EU’s changing strategy for a successful business.
