C 79/18
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
2.3.2023
Rethinking consumption patterns 8. points out that global textile production almost doubled between 2000 and 2015.
As clothing comprises the largest share of EU textile consumption (81 %), the trend of using garments for ever shorter periods before throwing them away is the biggest contributor to unsustainable patterns of overproduction and overconsumption;
9. would like to see the ever wider roll-out of methods for promoting the conscious and sustainable use of textile materials, particularly with regard to specific types of clothing, such as coats or children’s clothes, which are more likely to be discarded by consumers before the end of their useful life.
Such initiatives, such as swap schemes, fashion libraries and awareness-raising campaigns, face different barriers linked to prejudices surrounding used clothing, in terms of quality, hygiene or the diversity of products;
10. highlights the need to step up the search for innovative solutions (machines, equipment, digital platforms) for sorting, reusing and recycling collected textile waste, and for optimising the behaviour of materials;
11. points out that market demand for circular products and services is still insufficient and constitutes a major obstacle to the implementation of circular business models; encourages national, regional and local authorities to spur on a shift in patterns here by rolling out tools to support the adoption of business models based on a culture of use rather than ownership, establishing rules on the transport and trade of textile products (including waste streams) and promoting regulatory incentives (for example VAT reductions or applying the EPR principle) to encourage renting rather than purchasing, sharing platforms, take-back services, resale and second-hand shops, while promoting a renewed enthusiasm for repair, upcycling and maintenance; recognises, moreover, that these business models can have a positive impact on environmental sustainability performance in the health, tourism, construction and other key public service sectors;
12.
welcomes the initiative on empowering consumers for the green transition (2) and the resulting EU rules which will ensure that consumers receive information at the point of sale on a commercial guarantee of durability for textile products, as well as relevant information on their repairability; encourages the Commission to continue working on minimum criteria for all types of environmental claims in the context of the Green Claims initiative (3);
Making design for circularity a widespread reality 13. recognises that design for greater durability can extend the life cycle of textiles, clothing, leather and footwear (TCLF sector), thus reducing textile waste and the overall use of virgin materials and chemicals; welcomes the Commission’s work on developing binding product-specific ecodesign requirements to increase the performance of TCLF-sector products in terms of durability, reusability, repairability, fibre-to-fibre recyclability and mandatory recycled fibre content;
14. strongly advocates the need for common sustainability standards, which are considered essential for involving brands in the assessment of the environmental impacts of their products;
15.
welcomes the aspects of the Strategy on clearer information on the circularity of the TCLF sector and on a digital product passport based on mandatory information requirements on circulatory and other environmental aspects; calls on the Commission to make the Digital Product Passport (DPP) available to all stakeholders and consumers, and to include information on labour conditions and on how to repair and reuse the products;
16. considers that the following principles should be followed when establishing minimum requirements for TCLF products, and that the aim should be to improve overall environmental performance throughout the life cycle:
(2) (3)
COM(2022) 143 — Proposal for a Directive as regards empowering consumers for the green transition through better protection against unfair practices and better information.
Initiative on substantiating green claims — Environment – European Commission (europa.eu).