(Finance) – The European Commission proposed a standard package to make manufacturers responsible for the entire life cycle of textile products and to support the sustainable management of textile waste across the EU. The initiative intends to accelerate the development of the sector of separate collection, sorting, reuse and recycling of textiles, in line with the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles.
The EU executive predicts that the increased availability of used textiles will create local jobs and will save consumers moneyas well as mitigating the impact of textile production on natural resources at the same time.
The Commission proposes to introduce schemes of Mandatory and harmonized Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). for textiles in all Member States. EPR programs have been successful in improving waste management of different products, such as packaging, batteries, and electrical and electronic equipment. Manufacturers will cover the costs of managing textile waste, which will also give them incentives to reduce waste and increase the circularity of textile products by designing better products from the start.
What manufacturers pay to the EPR scheme will be adjusted based on the environmental performance of textiles, a principle known as “echomodulation“.
These norms they will simplify moreover for the Member States the implementation of theobligation to collect textiles separately starting from 2025, in line with current legislation. Contributions from producers will finance investments in separate collection, sorting, reuse and recycling capacity.
According to data provided by the Commission, theEU generates 12.6 million tons of textile waste per year. Clothing and footwear alone account for 5.2 million tonnes of waste, equivalent to 12kg of waste per capita each year. Currently only 22% of post-consumer textile waste is collected separately for reuse or recycling, with the rest often incinerated or landfilled.
“This legislative proposal represents a significant step towards a more sustainable and circular textile sector, in line with our Textiles Strategy – he commented Virginijus Sinkevicius, commissioner environment, oceans and fisheries – Harmonized rules across the EU will create a level playing field in the single market and ensure enforcement “polluter pays” principle. This initiative will drive investment in textile reuse and recycling infrastructure, create local jobs and stimulate innovation at all stages of the textile lifecycle.”