The mandatory design requirements for sustainable and circular textiles that will be introduced under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation will extend the lifetime of clothing and, together with new rules on extended producer responsibility under the Waste Framework Directive, will become the stepping stone to a new paradigm of attractive alternatives to fast changing fashion trends. 

Companies should become the champions of this paradigm shift. Those who have built their business models over the last two decades by capitalising on bringing increasing numbers of fashion lines and micro collections to the market at an ever increasing pace, are strongly encouraged to internalise circularity principles and business models, reduce the number of collections per year, take responsibility and act to minimise their carbon and environmental footprints.

Re-shaping the purchasing habits of consumers is difficult unless companies provide for new circular business models, such as product-as-service models, take-back services, second-hand collections and repair services. Although these new models still represent a niche market, they have been shown to extend the lifetime of textile products, and are a cost effective and affordable alternative to fast fashion. As fast fashion is linked to the growing use of fossil-fuel based synthetic fibres, shifting to more sustainable business models will reduce both the dependency of clothing producers on fossil fuels and their impacts on climate change and microplastic pollution.

As mentioned above, the Commission will, in the context of the Transition Pathway, engage with stakeholders to facilitate the scaling up of resource-efficient manufacturing processes, reuse, repair and other new circular business models in the textiles sector. 

Boosting social enterprises active in the reuse sector is particularly important, as they have considerable potential to create local, green and inclusive businesses and jobs in the EU. On average, a social enterprise creates 20-35 jobs per 1,000 tonnes of collected textiles with a view re-use. However, the sector faces many challenges to be competitive and become a mainstream player in the textiles sector. In order to support the reuse sector to scale up, build capacity and further internalise circularity principles, a number of measures are needed. The Transition Pathway on the Proximity and Social Economy offers an opportunity to discuss them with stakeholders. In addition, under the recently adopted EU Social Economy Action Plan[1], the Commission will adopt guidance on how to support uptake and partnerships for the circular economy between social enterprises and other actors, including mainstream businesses, that will in particular explore the opportunities that reuse and repair of textiles provide.

Member States also have an important role to play. In addition to measures to support the reuse and repair sector, including as part of the social economy, taxation measures, in line with State Aid and WTO rules, can be a particularly useful tool. The Commission encourages Member States to adopt favourable taxation measures for the reuse and repair sector. The Commission will develop guidance on promoting circular business models through investment, funding and other incentives, which will feature the opportunities to create circular value and jobs in the textiles ecosystem.

To accelerate the change in consumption and production patterns, the Commission will promote this transition under the motto #ReFashionNow, putting quality, durability, longer use, repair and reuse at the core. In the framework of the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform, it will mobilise designers, producers, retailers, advertisers and citizens in re-defining fashion. Other EU initiatives will also serve as a springboard for concrete #ReFashionNow actions, notably the European Bauhaus, the Sustainable Consumption Pledge, as well as the European Year of Youth.

Source: European Comission

• Why is EU introducing Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles (EUSSCT)?
• What are objectives of EUSSCT?
• What are key actions of EUSSCT?
• Key actions for sustainable and circular textiles: Introducing mandatory Ecodesign requirements?
• Key actions for sustainable and circular textiles: Stopping the destruction of unsold or returned textiles?