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The European Union has warned consumers to stop using clothes like throwaway items and has said it plans to clampdown on the polluting use of mass-market fast fashion.
New rules proposed by the EU’s executive arm call for a mandatory minimum use of recycled fibers by 2030 and would ban the destruction of many unsold products.
The rules could include easier repair of clothing and making clothes more durable.
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The European Commission have proposed new plans to tackle fast fashion. Pic: Shutterstock.
New rules proposed state that smartphones, clothes and furniture will have to become more durable, easier to repair and recycle.
EU Commission Vice President (VP) Frans Timmermans said it was time to end the model of ‘take, make, break and throw away.’
‘That is so harmful to our planet, our health and our economy.’
The proposal will be discussed and negotiated by EU member states.
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The proposal will be discussed by all 27 EU member states. Pic: Shutterstock.
The EU aim is to ensure that by the end of the decade as much textiles as possible sold in Europe will be derived from recyclable materials.
They also want to limit the amount of microplastics used.
‘All textiles should be long lasting, recyclable, made of recycled fibres and free of dangerous substances,’ stated the EU Commission VP.
The plan would introduce labelling on clothes detailing how recyclable and eco-friendly the item is.
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Textiles are not the only industry looked at; the proposal also states that goods will have to be easier to repair. Pic: Shutterstock.
A ban would also be introduced on the destruction of unsold producers, including garments that had been returned to the shop or not sold.
Fast fashion is unsustainable but is unfortunately a large part of the clothing industry.
The industry is responsible for 10% of annual carbon emissions globally.
These emissions are forecasted to increase by 2030.
Fast fashion relies on cheap manufacturing and frequent consumption and leaves garments with a very short life span.
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6.3million tonnes of plastic was produced in 2019, only 10% was recycled. Pic: Shutterstock.
According to a study carried out in 2020 titled The Environmental Price of Fast Fashion the environmental hazards of fast fashion include but are not limited to its water consumption, textile waste, use of chemicals and carbon dioxide emissions.
These carbon dioxide emissions equate to over 1billion tonnes annually.
Textile has the fourth highest impact on the environment and climate change, following food, housing and transport.
Under the proposed rules goods will also be required to be easier to maintain and repair.
Sustainability is the buzzword when it comes to fashion.
Our new EU textiles strategy will help the sector become more sustainable and circular, with the green transition bringing new opportunities.
⬇️ Our #EUDataCrunch highlights why this matters.
— European Commission 🇪🇺 (@EU_Commission) March 30, 2022
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