As a part of their broader aim to make sustainable products the norm in fashion industry, the European Union has pledged to take strict actions action the waste problem created by fast fashion. As per a Textile Focus report, the European Commission announced new rules to boost clothing quality, reduce toxic chemicals and waste. The most prominent amongst these rules include: a fee on brands like H&M, Primark and C&A for creating huge amounts of textile waste. The fee aims to encourage textile reuse, recycling and reduce waste amongst brands.
Environmental Group, Changing Markets Foundation welcomed the textile strategy, saying, they will drive positive change worldwide. However, the industry lacks measures to improve supply chain traceability, a problem because most textile impacts are felt outside Europe, the foundation said. The waste fee must be set high enough to make a difference, it added.
According to Changing Markets Foundation, clothing production doubled between 2000 and 2014 with the average consumer buying 60 per cent more clothing compared to 15 years ago. The average European creates 11 kilos of textile waste a year, but less than 1 per cent of clothes are recycled into new clothes. The rest are either burned or buried at a global rate of one rubbish truck per second. To curb this, 11 EU member states are calling for ambitious and comprehensive action on textiles.
