A successful EU Textile Strategy needs close involvement of supply chain
Press release - Environment, Sustainability & Energy
30 March 2022
The European Commission has issued its strategy on sustainable textiles, complementing the Sustainable Products Initiative, also launched today. Welcoming the strategy Christel Delberghe, EuroCommerce Director General said:
“We fully support the objectives of the strategy and are ready to work with the Commission in achieving these. This strategy will require a close dialogue with the textile supply chain if it is to bring about a systematic and positive change in the textile market. The Covid-19 pandemic meant that, for much of the last two years, fashion and textile retailers and wholesalers were closed. Together with all stakeholders in the supply chain they are struggling to recover from the massive loss of revenue and debt incurred during the pandemic, compounded now by the energy and cost-of-living crisis. Working hand in hand with the supply chain, and will be the best guarantee for the recovery of the textiles ecosystem in a new, sustainable form.”
A successful roll-out of the strategy will need an inclusive and ecosystem-based approach, in which policymakers create the conditions for EU textile and fashion retailers, wholesalers and producers to work together with the Commission and member states. Several other factors will be critical to making the EU Textile Strategy impactful, sustainable and effective:
- Scaling up know-how in innovative technologies and processes, which will be key to moving towards a circular production and consumption system for textiles.
- New public and private investment in high-value recycling technologies, involving and supporting retailers and wholesalers with access to the necessary finance.
- Urgent investment in more industrial waste sorting and recycling capacity, and the financing to support it, will be essential to strengthening the supply of safe secondary raw materials available at competitive prices.
- Coordinating the realisation of the strategy closely with related legislative measures, including the Sustainable Products Initiative and next year’s revision of the Waste Framework Directive.