Joint statement on Extended Producer Responsibility for Textiles

The undersigned organizations argue that the EU's proposed EPR for textiles lacks essential waste prevention and performance targets, which could lead to increased exports of textile waste. They propose specific 2030 targets for collection (60%), recycling (30%), and reuse (30%), while advocating for 'progressive fees' based on production volumes to combat fast fashion. The statement also calls for the inclusion of online marketplaces in EPR obligations, the expansion of scope to include mattresses and carpets, and a governance overhaul of Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs) to prevent corporate capture.

• The proposed EPR scheme for textiles is criticized for omitting mandatory targets for waste prevention, collection, reuse, and recycling. The signatories suggest a waste prevention target of 10-15% by 2030, or a 33% reduction by 2040 compared to 2020 volumes.
• To address the lack of performance targets, the document proposes specific EU-wide goals for 2030: a 60% separate collection target, a 30% EU-based recycling target (including a 5% fibre-to-fibre sub-target), and a 30% reuse target (including a 15% local reuse target within 1500 km).
• The authors argue that eco-modulation fees should be high enough to incentivize redesign rather than acting as a 'pay to pollute' fee. They specifically warn that fees based solely on weight could encourage producers to substitute materials for lighter, potentially more polluting options like polyester over cotton.
• To combat the fast fashion business model, the statement proposes introducing a volume criterion for eco-contribution fees linked to the number of new items a brand places on the market annually, with fees increasing once certain thresholds are met.
• The document highlights a risk that the January 2025 separate collection obligation will create a gap between collected textiles and EU processing capacity, potentially increasing exports of waste. It estimates that a 40% collection rate could increase volumes by 2.5 billion tonnes/year, with a potential gap of 1.2 billion metric tonnes.
• The signatories call for the inclusion of online marketplaces in EPR obligations, requiring platforms to verify that producers are registered in EPR registries and holding platforms liable for non-compliance when no other actor is identified.
• The document argues that the current governance of Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs) is flawed, leading to 'corporate capture' and the exclusion of stakeholders. It demands that NGOs, municipalities, and social enterprises have decision-making power rather than just an observing role.

APA

Changing Markets Foundation (2023). Joint statement on Extended Producer Responsibility for Textiles. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/joint_statement_extendedproducerresponsibilityEPRfortextiles.pdf

Chicago

Changing Markets Foundation. Joint statement on Extended Producer Responsibility for Textiles. 2023. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/joint_statement_extendedproducerresponsibilityEPRfortextiles.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Changing Markets Foundation |title=Joint statement on Extended Producer Responsibility for Textiles |date=16 October 2023 |url=https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/joint_statement_extendedproducerresponsibilityEPRfortextiles.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{changingmarketsfoundation2023joint, author = {{Changing Markets Foundation}}, title = {{Joint statement on Extended Producer Responsibility for Textiles}}, publisher = {Changing Markets Foundation}, year = {2023}, month = oct, url = {https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/joint_statement_extendedproducerresponsibilityEPRfortextiles.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }