European parliament votes on law against textile waste and fast fashion

The European Parliament is poised to enact a new law that will tackle both food and textile waste, with a significant focus on the environmental impact of "fast fashion." This legislation, which revises a 2008 directive, marks the first time the textile industry will be subject to EU-wide waste reduction efforts. This initiative, championed by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), directly confronts the issue of low-cost garments, particularly those imported from countries like China.

Addressing textile waste

The new law introduces a "polluter pays" principle for the textile industry. This means that producers will be held financially responsible for the collection, sorting, and recycling of clothing that has reached its end of life. Member states will have the flexibility to determine the specific costs that producers must bear to cover these operations. The law specifically targets "ultra-ephemeral" fashion, which is characterized by its high volume, low cost, and rapid production cycle.

The law's focus on textiles comes at a critical time, as each European citizen generates an average of 15 kilograms of textile waste annually. The EU has recognized that textile recycling is currently almost nonexistent, making this legislation a crucial step toward creating a more sustainable fashion industry.

A recent investigation by the European Commission against the Chinese platform Shein highlights the broader concerns surrounding social and environmental excesses tied to this type of fashion. Additionally, a separate proposal aims to combat the influx of small, cheap parcels into the EU by imposing a 2 euros tax per parcel, given that 91 percent of the 4.6 billion such packages that entered the EU last year originated from China.

Food waste targets

While textiles are a new focus, the law also sets binding targets for food waste. By 2030, each member state must reduce food waste from distribution, catering, and households by 30 percent. Furthermore, waste from food processing and manufacturing must be reduced by 10 percent, compared to volumes recorded between 2021 and 2023. This compromise was reached after MEPs initially pushed for more ambitious goals of 40 percent and 20 percent.

To meet these objectives, member states can implement prevention programs tailored to their local agri-food sectors. These initiatives could include selling "ugly" fruits and vegetables, improving food labelling, and donating unsold but consumable food to charities and food banks. Despite calls from hotel and restaurant professionals for educational measures over binding targets, the law emphasises that targeted solutions are key to tackling the more than 50 percent of food waste that occurs at the household level.

This article was translated to English using an AI tool.

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