Textiles

Clothing, fashion accessories and cosmetics are some of the worst performing product categories when it comes to consumer perceptions about how effectively they are tackling the amount and recyclability of packaging used in the UK. This is according to new research by Aquapak, which specialises in developing high performance, environmentally safe materials to reduce plastic pollution and improve recycling,

EuRIC’s Textiles event, held in Brussels on 27 March, brought together sorters, recyclers, manufacturers, retailers, policymakers, academics, and circularity experts to address the need for bridging the gap between policy and industry in the textile sector. The event emphasised the need for a systemic shift towards a circular economy, with a strong focus on legislative action and innovation.

Renting clothes can reduce the fashion industry’s enormous environmental impact, but so far, the business models have not worked very well. The best chance of success is for a rental company to provide clothing within a niche market, such as specific sportswear, and to work closely with the suppliers and clothing manufacturers. This is shown by a study led by researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, which highlights the measures that can make clothing rental a success.

Europeans are buying and discarding more clothing, footwear and other textiles than ever before, which as a result, is putting more pressure on our climate and environment, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing released today. The updated consumption data highlights the need for policymakers, industry and consumers to play their role in helping Europe shift away from the fast-fashion trend, to produce better, longer lasting quality textiles which are designed to last long, and can be reused, repaired and recycled.

EuRIC’s Textiles Branch has unveiled its “EU Recyclers’ Manifesto: Increasing textiles circularity by 2030”, outlining five key policy recommendations to achieve circularity in the textile sector by 2030. With each EU citizen generating approximately 16 kg of textile waste annually, yet only 4.4 kg being separately collected for reuse and recycling, urgent measures are needed to prevent textile waste from ending up in landfills or incinerators.

The OECD Environment working paper “Extended producer responsibility in the garments sector” aims to assess the potential of an extended producer responsibility approach to achieve the goal of a circular economy in the apparel sector.

EuRIC welcomes the provisional agreement on the targeted revision of the Waste Framework Directive (WFD), reached by the European Parliament and Council on 19 February, as it marks a significant step forward for the circular economy and textile waste management. However, urgent support is still required to address the unprecedented crisis currently facing the EU’s textile reuse and recycling sector.

The focus on finding solutions to the growing issue of textile waste is growing at both European and global levels. The EU-funded project tExtended is spearheading innovation in this area with the development of a blueprint, a knowledge-based masterplan to develop and demonstrate effective textile recovery, reuse, waste valorisation, and recycling processes.

Petcore Europa is publishing a position paper on the forthcoming ESPR Ecodesign for sustainable products regulation. It outlines how circularity through recycling and energy performance can be optimized for polyester textiles, leading to a strong, well-functioning single market for sustainable polyester textiles in the EU.

EuRIC Textiles, FEAD & Decathlon have published a joint position paper calling for effective EPR schemes and a level playing field in the revised Waste Framework Directive (WFD) to strengthen Europe’s circular textile economy.

Esposito has signed an agreement with Picvisa for the installation of an automatic clothing sorting line by composition and color at its Marcianise plant.