Page 14 - TEXtalks. July- August 2023

14
European Union further tighten

sustainable policy

Making fashion brands responsible for

the full lifecycle of their products

Textile waste has become a headache for the It will mitigate the environmental impact of textile
European Union and its efforts to control it have not production. Textile producers such as fashion
paid much dividends. Now the EU Commission brands and retailers will be required to cover the
proposed rules to make fashion brands responsible costs associated with textile waste management.
for the full lifecycle of their products. This will force them to reduce waste and enhance
the circularity of their products right from the
The proposed rules also will require them to design stage.
financially support the sustainable management of
textile waste across the EU. The EU parliament will The financial contributions made by producers to
discuss the proposal and adopt rules after due the EPR scheme will be determined based on the
consideration. The new proposed rules are an environmental performance of their textiles,
extension of the EU commitment outlined through following the principle of ‘eco-modulation.’
the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Producers’ contributions will support investments
Textiles to harmonize Extended Producer in the development of the separate collection,
Responsibility rules for textiles and foster sorting, reuse, and recycling infrastructure. The EU
economic incentives for more sustainable and Commission further states that social enterprises
circular textile products. engaged in textile collection and treatment will
benefit from increased business opportunities and
The EU Commission’s proposal asks for the a larger market for second-hand textiles. The
introduction of mandatory and harmonized proposal also addresses the issue of illegal
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes exports of textile waste to countries ill-equipped to
for textiles in all EU Member States, as EPR manage it.
schemes have proven successful in improving
waste management for other products, such as According to the European Commission, Europe
packaging, batteries, and electronic equipment. generates 12.6 million tonnes of textile waste
annually, with clothing and footwear alone
The initiative is in line with the EU Strategy for contributing 5.2 million tonnes, equivalent to 12kg
Sustainable and Circular Textiles. The EU of waste per person each year. Currently, only 22
Commission states it will create local jobs and percent of post-consumer textile waste is collected
save consumers money through separate separately for reuse or recycling, while the remaining
collection, sorting, reuse, and recycling of textiles. portion is often incinerated or sent to landfills.

July/August 2023