Policy recommendations for green and social ambition in EU textiles policies

The Changing Markets Foundation argues that the 2022 EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles lacked sufficient ambition and calls for binding material footprint targets, a ban on the destruction of unsold goods, and mandatory disclosure of production volumes. It advocates for the decarbonisation of supply chains through financial support for Global South suppliers and the implementation of a textile-specific Unfair Trading Practices (UTP) directive to protect workers' rights and living wages. Additionally, the brief recommends strengthening the Substantiating Green Claims directive to require ex-ante verification of environmental claims and the inclusion of social impact data in Digital Product Passports.

• The EU's current response to textile overproduction is insufficient because it focuses on physical durability and recycled content rather than the root causes, such as the high volume of low-cost synthetic goods. The document notes that 12.6 million tonnes of textile waste are generated annually in the EU, much of which is exported to receiving countries with negative impacts.
• The fashion industry is heavily dependent on fossil fuels, with synthetic fibres accounting for 1.35% of global oil consumption, a figure exceeding the annual oil consumption of Spain. Projections suggest that by 2030, 73% of textiles will be produced from fossil fuels if current trajectories continue.

APA

Changing Markets Foundation (2024). Policy recommendations for green and social ambition in EU textiles policies. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Textiles-priorities-for-new-legislature-Updated.pdf

Chicago

Changing Markets Foundation. Policy recommendations for green and social ambition in EU textiles policies. 2024. https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Textiles-priorities-for-new-legislature-Updated.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Changing Markets Foundation |title=Policy recommendations for green and social ambition in EU textiles policies |date=October 2024 |url=https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Textiles-priorities-for-new-legislature-Updated.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{changingmarketsfoundation2024policy, author = {{Changing Markets Foundation}}, title = {{Policy recommendations for green and social ambition in EU textiles policies}}, institution = {Changing Markets Foundation}, year = {2024}, month = oct, url = {https://changingmarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Textiles-priorities-for-new-legislature-Updated.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }