EU aims to reduce textile waste
Members of the European Parliament reached a compromise with the member states in February on a proposal from the European Commission to expand producer responsibility in the textile sector. Through a fee, they will contribute to the costs of collection, sorting, and recycling.
In the EU, 12.6 million tons of textile waste are produced annually. Clothing and shoes alone account for 5.2 million tons, or 12 kilograms per person. To tackle this waste mountain, member states are asked to focus on so-called fast fashion. This way, they can adjust the fees for producers based on the lifespan of their products.
“It is good that we are now firmly anchoring the principle of ‘the polluter pays’ for textiles,” responds Belgian MEP Liesbet Sommen (CD&V/EPP). “Moreover, it is a strong signal that non-European producers, who sell their clothes here, will not be able to escape this. This way, we also hit the fast fashion industry where it hurts and steer the market towards quality and reuse.”
The measures are part of a broader revision of the waste directive. For the first time, European targets against food waste are also being introduced, currently amounting to about 132 kilograms per European per year. By 2030, waste in the processing and production of food must be reduced by 10 percent, and waste from households, restaurants, catering services, and retail by 30 percent per capita.
