ReSet theTrend
The most obvious function of clothing is to protect our bodies from the cold, wind, rain or the sun. But above all, clothes let us express ourselves: they reveal what job we do, our favourite team or the music we like. Unfortunately, our love of clothes comes at a huge environmental cost.
The textiles sector, which includes clothing, has the fourth highest impact on the environment and climate change, after food, housing and transport. The sector has a huge potential to save energy, water, land and other resources, to reduce waste and pollution, and to help fight against climate change. This vision of transformation, as well as specific actions needed to make it a reality, is the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles. Changes in textiles and the fashion industry will involve everyone: designers, producers, retailers and consumers – and you.
5.8 million tonnes of textiles are discarded every year in the EU. That's 11.3 kg per person
1 % of the material used around the world for clothing is recycled into new clothing
Textile consumption is one of the top three pressures on water and land use
Textiles and clothing employ 1.5 million Europeans, creating local jobs and business opportunities
Make fast fashion out of fashion
The good news is we can all make a difference right now. It’s easy.
Help raise awareness across Europe about sustainable fashion.
It’s time to spread the word about what we can do to green the textiles sector. It’s time to ReSet the Trend!
Get inspired by stories of change
Developing skills in sustainability and promoting ethical dimensions for all businesses in the apparel and textile sector.
Located in Malmö Siptex is the world’s first large-scale facility of its kind, sorting textiles by colour and fibre composition using near-infrared light to handle large flows and produce textile fractions suited to different recycling processes
Haarlem, a beautiful city in the Netherlands, recently hosted the Erasmus Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) on sustainable fashion, an innovative short programme for students and staff from higher education institutions.