EU |RREUSE Urges EU To Take Action To Help Textile Recycling

In December 2019, the RREUSE non-profit network as a social enterprise for reusing, repairing and recycling sectors is urging the European Union to take action to help fashion and textile industry to circulate.

In a new report entitled "vision of the new fashion season: Society and circulation", RREUSE pointed out that the poor quality of textiles used for fast fashion is affecting efforts to create a recycling economy.

　　 According to the report, the average annual consumption of 26 kilograms of textiles per EU citizen is 15% of the EU's main raw material consumption. The "fast fashion" phenomenon has affected our clothing consumption mode, resulting in a sharp increase in per capita sales, excessive consumption and inadequate regulation of circulation, resulting in an increase in the number of inferior textiles and is not suitable for reuse, let alone recycling.

RREUSE is a group of 27 member agencies covering 25 European countries and the United States. It means that textile recyclers must pay for those clothes that are only suitable for landfill or incineration.

Of the textiles collected in Europe, 5% to 15% can be reused locally, and 30% to 40% can be reused overseas, and 30% to 40% can be recycled, but 10% to 15% are wasted. However, the report said that the European Union had the opportunity to change the situation by updating the waste act after the EU Member States had to collect textiles separately from 2025.

RREUSE claims that the annual collection and classification of waste of 6 million tons of clothing in Europe can create about 120000 jobs.

RREUSE urges the following aspects of the work of the European Union:

(1) RREUSE urged the EU to give priority to textiles in its new circular economic action plan. The EU promised to give priority to textiles when it announced the new European Green agreement last week.

(2) RREUSE hopes that the EU will develop a specific textile action plan focusing on waste prevention and producers' financing to increase the reuse of garments.

(3) the European Union urges the EU to conduct an impact assessment of the textiles' separate recovery obligations under the new Waste Framework Directive, while considering the impact of second-hand textile management operators.

(4) RREUSE hopes to set up a textile supply chain expert working group to carry out more efforts in social and public procurement, encourage textile recycling and take actions to ensure transparency in the textile supply chain.

The group says its members can play a key role in coping with the cycle of fashion culture and are in a position to be ready to engage with EU institutions, policymakers and key stakeholders.

China textile expert advice

1., enterprises should pay attention to the recycling of textiles, constantly improve the recycling and utilization of waste textiles, and reduce the waste of materials.

2., enterprises should pay attention to product design, focus on the use of recyclable materials from the source, and purchase fiber that can be used continuously.

3. consumers need reasonable consumption. Brand enterprises can offer customized services to enable consumers to participate in the design and extend the life cycle of clothing.

[reference link]

1.https://circulareconomy.europa.eu/platform/en/knowledge/vision-new-fashion-season-social-and-circular

2.https://www.rreuse.org/vision-for-a-new-fashion-season-social-and-circular/