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"Europe finds itself in an unprecedented health and economic crisis, revealing the fragility of our global supply chains," said lead MEP Huitema. Horizon 2020 funds Resyntex, a project using chemical recycling, which could provide a circular economy business model for the textile industry.Ī more sustainable model of textile production also has the potential to boost the economy. The EU has also introduced some measures to mitigate the impact of textile waste on the environment. The EU has an EU Ecolabel that producers respecting ecological criteria can apply to items, ensuring a limited use of harmful substances and reduced water and air pollution. Second meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) Emergency Committee regarding the multi-country outbreak of monkeypox. The new Commission strategy also includes measures to, tackle the presence of hazardous chemicals, calls producers have to take responsibility for their products along the value chain, including when they become wasteand help consumers to choose sustainable textiles. WHO calls on global community to do one thing to save lives on World Drowning Prevention Day. Under the waste directive approved by the Parliament in 2018, EU countries are obliged to collect textiles separately by 2025. The new strategy includes new ecodesign requirements for textiles, clearer information, a Digital Product Passport and calls companies to take responsibility and act to minimise their carbon and environmental footprints. In February 2021, the Parliament adopted a resolution on the new circular economy action plan demanding additional measures to achieve a carbon-neutral, environmentally sustainable, toxic-free and fully circular economy by 2050, including tighter recycling rules and binding targets for materials use and consumption by 2030.Īs part of the proposals, MEPs asked for new measures against microfiber loss and stricter standards on water use.Īs part of the circular economy action plan, the European Commission presented in March 2022 a new strategy to make textiles more durable, repairable, reusable and recyclable, tackle fast fashion and stimulate innovation within the sector. Globally less than 1% of clothes are recycled as clothing, partly due to inadequate technology. Used clothes can be exported outside the EU, but are mostly (87%) incinerated or landfilled. Europeans use nearly 26 kilos of textiles and discard about 11 kilos of them every year. Since 1996, the amount of clothes bought in the EU per person has increased by 40% following a sharp fall in prices, which has reduced the life span of clothing. The way people get rid of unwanted clothes has also changed, with items being thrown away rather than donated. It is estimated that the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions – more than international flights and maritime shipping combined.Īccording to the European Environment Agency, textile purchases in the EU in 2017 generated about 654 kg of CO2 emissions per person.