The EU’s new Textile Strategy, which includes an amendment to the Eco-Design Regulation, aims to set legal requirements for different product groups, including clothing and footwear.
The final Eco-Design Regulation is expected to be approved by the European Parliament and Council by the end of 2023.
The regulation includes the development of digital product passports that, in addition to conventional information, must inform consumers about chemical content, repairability and fibre composition.
Product-specific information requirements will ensure that consumers are aware of the product’s environmental impact when making a purchase.
In the EU, about 5.80 million tonnes of textiles are discarded every year, equivalent to 11kg/person.
As a result, the EU has changed its approach to sustainability challenges and is moving away from soft laws following international guidelines such as legally binding regulations and directives.
This strategy includes many elements to create momentum for the textile industry, for example, products must be designed and manufactured so that they can last longer, can be repaired and then recycled.
Another factor is strengthening enforcement against false advertising practices about ‘greenwashing’ sustainable fashion. This is the behaviour that fashion brands often use to market products as sustainable fashion but do not enforce the strict standards of sustainable fashion.
The proposal also includes measures to end the destruction of backlogs of consumer goods, as well as expand green public procurement and provide incentives for sustainable products.
