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Policy Hub suggests ways towards circularity

22 Dec '19
3 min read
Pic: Global Fashion Agenda
Pic: Global Fashion Agenda

The Policy Hub - launched by the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) in collaboration with the Federation of the European Sporting Goods Industry (FESI) and Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) – has suggested ways for the policymakers to progress towards circularity in the sector. It has published two position papers outlining these ways and principles.

Funded by C&A Foundation, the three organisations within the Policy Hub represent over 300 brands, retailers, manufacturers and other stakeholders from the apparel and footwear sectors, making the position papers a landmark step in creating a unified framework for circularity.

The position papers published are - the ‘Building blocks for a sustainable circular economy for textiles’ which offers fundamental recommendations for EU policymakers when establishing a circular economy for the textiles industry, and ‘A common framework for extended producer responsibility (EPR) in the apparel and footwear industry’ which outlines the necessary principles if EPR is to be implemented as the regulatory requirement to separately collect textiles by 2025.

“These new policy papers reflect comprehensive and collaborative work of industry experts through the Policy Hub to outline for EU policymakers how they can lead in mitigating the harmful impacts of climate change,” said Amina Razvi SAC executive director. “Policymakers can influence and enable lasting change at scale in the apparel and footwear industry by prioritising legislation and incentivising action that supports a circular economy.”

The Policy Hub unites the textile industry and its stakeholders to speak in one voice; and to propose policies that accelerate circular practices in the apparel, footwear and textile sectors. With the recent European Green Deal reinforcing EU ambitions for a circular economy, the position papers highlight how the Policy Hub is playing an active role in helping to shape targets.

“In my opinion the Policy Hub is the most ambitious yet realistic set of policy recommendations that will support the drive towards the circularity of the garment and footwear sector” said Jérome Pero, secretary general, FESI. “If all stakeholders engage in this exercise, I am confident that Europe will be once more the policy defining actor on one of the important challenges of our time.”

Circularity is a necessary priority to minimise the use of finite resources and enable the sector to operate within planetary boundaries. European Environment Agency’s report Textiles in Europe´s circular economy revealed the environmental and climate pressures caused by textile consumption and speaks to the growing need for policymakers and companies to take swift action. The Pulse of the Fashion Industry also reported that 73 per cent of the world’s clothing eventually ends up in landfills and the global fashion industry is projected to grow by 81 per cent by 2030, exerting an unprecedented strain on the planet.

“It is vital that we establish a circular economy in textiles if fashion is to thrive sustainably, but this can only be achieved with progressive policy.” said Jonas Eder-Hansen, public affairs director, Global Fashion Agenda. “I hope policymakers will use the new position papers as tools to inform and accelerate action on circularity.”

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SV)

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