Europe remains focused on cutting the vast waste of food and clothing across the European Union. This week the European Commission introduced a legislative package aimed at steering the economy toward greater circularity and sustainability in both food and textiles. The goal is twofold: compel Member States to curb food waste and boost reuse and recycling of clothes.
These two proposals will require negotiations with the European Parliament and the member states. A final set of regulations is expected before the Eurochamber elections, scheduled for June 2024.
food waste
The figures are staggering. About 59 million tons of food are discarded yearly in the EU, equivalent to roughly 131 kilograms per person and accounting for 10% of total food production. At the same time, European Commission data show that around 36 million people cannot afford a quality meal each day.
When food goes to waste, the climate pays the price, since it contributes about 16% of greenhouse gas emissions from the EU food system. It also represents wasted water and energy resources, with significant environmental consequences.
For this reason the European Community aims to correct this through legally binding targets for member countries.
Special, By 2030 Brussels seeks to reduce per capita food waste by 30% in supermarkets, restaurants, and homes. In 2027, a review article noted a further 10% shift in the field of production and processing.
While these targets align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which aspire to cut global food waste by half by the end of this decade, the change in consumer behavior is essential.
Brussels offers guidelines, advice, and good practices but also urges capitals to develop prevention strategies that some countries, such as the Netherlands, France, and Germany, already pursue. The plan includes legal measures and tax incentives.
stop wasting clothes
The second pillar focuses on greening the textile sector. At a recent EU conference, Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius described textiles as the fourth-largest environmental and climate-impacted sector after food, housing, and mobility. The aim is to promote reuse and recycling investments and to apply the polluter pays principle.
Currently, 78% of fabrics used in the EU are not separated for reuse or recycling and end up in landfills or incinerators. Each year, about 5.2 million tons of clothing and shoes are discarded, roughly 12 kilograms per person.
With separate textile collections due to begin on 1 January 2025, the Commission now proposes a mandatory and harmonized Extended Producer Responsibility for textiles across all member states.
These schemes, already in use for packaging and other products such as electronic batteries, would require producers to cover waste-management costs. The goal is to create incentives for reducing waste and increasing circularity by designing products with end-of-life reuse and recycling in mind.
A standardized environmental performance assessment would determine fees under an eco-modulation approach.
For example, a T-shirt might incur a fee of around 0.12 euros, though the proposal establishes the framework rather than specifying exact contributions. Brussels also intends to ban exporting discarded fabrics to third countries without equivalent environmental rules and hopes to spur research and innovation in textile materials as part of a broader ecological agenda. The commissioner notes that such measures could bring cost savings for consumers who favor timeless fashion over fast trends.
green fabrics
Since March 2022, the EU has pursued a sustainability strategy for textiles designed to align the industry with a target to cut CO2 emissions by 55% by 2030 versus 1990 levels. This roadmap features the Ecodesign Directive, identified as a priority, aimed at shaping products to be durable, repairable, safe, and recyclable, while prohibiting the destruction of unsold textiles and clothing.
The Commission also proposed steps in March to end confusing eco-labeling and is expected to announce an initiative soon to limit microplastic release across product lifecycles.
The ongoing negotiations at the council and parliament reflect a push to ensure textile products meet circularity goals and support a healthier, low-waste economy.
Notes on environmental policy alignment and industry impact continue to shape the European Green Deal efforts across sectors.
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