In a recent report, Zero Waste Europe (ZWE), a network of communities, experts, and leaders aiming to eradicate waste, urged governments to take action to push fashion firms towards sustainability.
Asking for new EU regulations on waste in the garment chain is one of the actions advised by the paper, A Zero Waste Vision for Fashion Chapter 1: All We Need Is Less.
ZWE is requesting a prohibition on major businesses destroying unsold items and a goal for lowering the usage of primary resources within the EU.
According to the organisation, waste reduction efforts in the EU “have not yet yielded any tangible results” and it is necessary to set clear goals in order for member states to make progress.
The study also advises employing financial incentives to make fast fashion retailers answerable for the waste that their merchandise creates. Additionally, given the predominance of synthetic fibres in fast fashion, it calls for virgin materials, particularly virgin plastics, to be subject to the same environmental taxes levied on the energy and transportation industries.
ZWE encouraged manufacturers to explore beyond product circularity and eco-design by establishing four fundamental criteria in January for creating a zero-waste fashion business strategy.
ZWE has stated its intentions to “disincentivize overconsumption” in order to foster a “culture of sufficiency.” According to the article, this will eventually lead to a reduction in the consumption of new clothing while making reuse and repair profitable.
ZWE’s resources policy officer, and author of the report, Theresa Mörsen says, “We cannot rely on so-called consumer behaviour ‘nudges’ to cut down on fashion consumption.“
