EURATEX welcomes progress on Ecodesign, but highlights concerns

The Ecodesign Regulation aims to improve the environmental sustainability and circularity of products placed on the European Union (EU) market, including textiles, the organisation said in a press release. 

Representing 160,000 European textile companies, EURATEX has been highlighting that a successful legal framework is based on an inclusive and feasible approach, ensures sufficient capacity, and sets a timeline for businesses to adjust. Therefore, EURATEX welcomes the call of the members of parliament (MEPs) for tailored support and smooth transition for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Strongly advocated by EURATEX, the EP also strengthened the provisions on market surveillance, which is a key element for ensuring a level playing field for EU companies in the single market.

As businesses already face difficulties to navigate through all ongoing policy and legislative initiatives, EURATEX expressed its appreciation for the efforts of the EP to ensure legislative consistency, the lack of which may only create additional costs and administrative burdens for companies. The inclusivity and transparency of the future Ecodesign Forum have indeed received a positive boost.

EURATEX conveyed its disappointment towards the fact that the EP has overlooked the plea for legislative coherence on substances of concern and for keeping the ESPR aligned with existing chemical legislation to avoid overlapping or conflicting regulation. EURATEX has suggested that social sustainability aspects should be addressed within the due diligence legislative framework.

Regarding the future Ecodesign requirements for textiles, these will have to be based on reliable data, and supported by thorough analysis and impact assessments. The requirements should be set out in the textile-specific Delegated Act and should be developed with relevant stakeholders.

As the ESPR trialogue negotiations between the EP, the Council of the EU, and the European Commission unfold in autumn, EURATEX will continue to stress the guiding principle of ‘fit-for-purpose’ rules and the balance between high environmental objectives and competitiveness of companies.

Moreover, on July 11, the EP’s position on the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) was adopted by MEPs with 396 votes in favour, 102 against and 131 abstentions. EURATEX has expressed its concerns regarding the text because of the inclusion of standalone finishing plants in the scope of the new IED. This creates inconsistencies with the recently finalised Textile BREF document (adopted in Sevilla by all parties), which regulates industrial emissions for both pretreatments and finishing plants. Standalone finishing companies, typically SMEs, now face challenges to comply with specifications which were originally designed for different and bigger companies.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (NB)