Fashion companies may be required to make clothes more durable and recyclable
The European Commission calls for an end to fast fashion by 2030, writes The Guardian. The European Union is expanding the list of environmental requirements that could in the future apply to all products, starting with textiles. Besides, big clothing manufacturers may be obliged to disclose how many unsold goods are sent to landfill. EU Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius said the commission wants fast fashion to “go out of fashion,” stating, “By 2030, textiles supplied to the EU market must be durable, recyclable, and largely made from recycled fibers.” He was optimistic that consumers would take this idea positively: “Clothes will not have to be thrown away and replaced as often as now, so consumers will get a really good alternative to fast fashion.
These proposals were part of the EU’s plan for a “circular economy,” which aims to reduce Europe’s ecological footprint in the world. The Commission also wants to amend the EU consumer protection law to stop greenwashing. Describing a product as “environmentally friendly” would be banned unless the essence of the claim can be demonstrated and proven. If the proposals go into effect, they could have a major impact worldwide, since nearly three-quarters of the clothing and home textiles consumed in the EU are imported from other countries.
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