Textiles strategy

The EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles addresses the production and consumption of textiles, whilst recognising the importance of the textiles sector. It implements the commitments of the European Green Deal, the Circular Economy Action Plan and the European industrial strategy.

Textiles are the fabric of everyday life - in clothes and furniture, medical and protective equipment, buildings and vehicles. However, urgent action is needed as their impact on the environment continues to grow. EU consumption of textiles has, on average, the fourth highest impact on the environment and climate change, after food, housing and mobility. It is also the third highest area of consumption for water and land use, and fifth highest for the use of primary raw materials and greenhouse gas emissions.

The Strategy looks at the entire lifecycle of textile products and proposes coordinated actions to change how we produce and consume textiles.

5 million tonnes

of clothing discarded each year in the EU - around 12kg per person

20 to 35 jobs

created for each 1000 tonnes of textiles collected for re-use

1%

of material in clothing is recycled into new clothing

Objectives

The Strategy aims to create a greener, more competitive sector that is more resistant to global shocks. The Commission's 2030 vision for textiles is that

all textile products placed on the EU market are durable, repairable and recyclable, to a great extent made of recycled fibres, free of hazardous substances, produced in respect of social rights and the environment
”fast fashion is out of fashion” and consumers benefit longer from high quality affordable textiles
profitable re-use and repair services are widely available
the textiles sector is competitive, resilient and innovative with producers taking responsibility for their products along the value chain with sufficient capacities for recycling and minimal incineration and landfilling

Actions

The Strategy lays out a forward-looking set of actions. The Commission will

Set design requirements for textiles to make them last longer, easier to repair and recycle, as well as requirements on minimum recycled content
Introduce clearer information and a Digital Product Passport
Reverse overproduction and overconsumption, and discourage the destruction of unsold or returned textiles
Address the unintentional release of microplastics from synthetic textiles
Tackle greenwashing to empower consumers and raise awareness about sustainable fashion
Introduce mandatory and harmonised Extender Producer Responsibility rules for textiles in all Member States and incentivise producers to design products that are more sustainable
Restrict the export of textile waste and promote sustainable textiles globally
Incentivise circular business models, including reuse and repair sectors
Encourage companies and Member States to support the objectives of the Strategy

Implementation

The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, proposed in 2022, creates a framework to set ecodesign requirements for products, including textiles.
The Empowering Consumers in the Green Transition Directive and Green Claims Directive, proposed in 2022 and 2023, aim to tackle greenwashing.
The “Reset the Trend” campaign (#ReFashionNow) was launched in 2023 to raise awareness about sustainable fashion.
The Waste Shipment Regulation, proposed in 2021, will help restrict the export of textile waste.
Transition Pathway for the Textiles Ecosystem, published in 2023,and the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform (since 2018) promote and foster cooperation between industry, public authorities, social partners and other stakeholders.
Calls have been launched under Horizon Europe to further develop technologies and processes increasing the circularity and sustainability of the textiles sector.
In 2023 the Commission proposed a revision to the Waste Framework Directive to introduce mandatory and harmonised Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes for textiles in all EU Member States.
In 2023 the Commission launched a plan to update and revise the Textile Labelling Regulation.

Timeline

Key dates related to the strategy

5 July 2023
European Commission adopts proposal for a targeted revision of the Waste Framework Directive
The revision is proposing to introduce mandatory and harmonised Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes for textiles in all EU Member States.
Find out more in the press release.
6 June 2023
European Commission publishes the Transition Pathway for the Textiles Ecosystem, co-created by the Commission and relevant actors in the sector
Find out more on the transition pathway.
22 March 2023
European Commission adopts proposal for a Directive on Green Claims
Find out more in the press release, questions and answers, and factsheet.
26 January 2023
European Commission launches ReSet The Trend campaign
The campaign aims to engage Europeans in the battle against fast fashion and raise public awareness about the EU textiles strategy.
Find out more about the campaign.
30 March 2022
European Commission adopts the Empowering Consumers in the Green Transition Directive
European Commission adopts the Empowering Consumers in the Green Transition Directive.
30 March 2022
European Commission adopts the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation
Find out more in the press release, questions and answers and factsheet.
30 March 2022
European Commission adopted the EU strategy for sustainable and circular textiles
Find out more in the press release and questions and answers.
11 March 2020
European Commission adopted new Circular Economy Action Plan
Find out more

EU strategy for sustainable and circular textiles

Objectives

Actions

Implementation

Timeline

Policy areas

Related strategies

Documents

News

Euronews "The Road To Green", Episode 3: Textiles

Circular economy for textiles: taking responsibility to reduce, reuse and recycle textile waste and boosting markets for used textiles

European Green Deal: more sustainable use of plant and soil natural resources