Textiles and apparel industry association Euratex has launched a manifesto, aimed at urging EU policy makers to act to establish a "true" circular fashion system.

The call comes hot on the heels of a European Commission announcement that it plans to check existing EU policies to see how they can contribute to the circular economy.

A Commission staff working document, released in March, recognised the "large potential" of the textiles sector in this area but where "no instrument exists setting design and durability criteria for textiles".

Now, in a joint manifesto launched in early May, Euratex and four apparel organisations say the systems in place "are currently inadequate". Their document makes recommendations for future EU actions, and paves the way for a new industry collaboration, which includes discussions on the presence of hazardous chemicals.

Among recommendations, the manifesto calls for:

a new toolbox to bring together public and private initiatives, in order to remove barriers, increase awareness, invest in technological innovation, stimulate demand and develop new business models;

coordination across all institutions at the EU level to be able to cover the "full complexity" of circular fashion and textiles;

smart regulation to "identify and alleviate" areas that industry cannot address alone, and encourage future innovation; and

clearly defined roles and responsibilities for each actor in the value chain.

Along with Euratex, the Federation of the European Sporting Goods Industry (Fesi), the International Apparel Federation (Iaf), the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) and Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) signed the manifesto.

Mauro Scalia, Euratex director of sustainable businesses, said: "The manifesto shows that finding new ways for unprecedented coordination is possible."

And Eva Kruse, CEO and president of GFA, said the document is "extremely significant" because it is the first time so many organisations in the fashion industry have come "together to work with policy makers on a unified approach to circularity".

"Through this European collaboration we can support legislation that promotes lasting industry improvements globally,'' said Baptiste Carrière-Pradal, vice president of the SAC.

The manifesto, announced during the Techtextil and Texprocess fair in Frankfurt, is the first step of a new strategy that aims to bring industry together to find ways forward on circularity.

The strategy will be developed in the course of the year and is likely to be presented in 2020.

Speaking at the Helsinki Chemicals Forum on 23 May Daniel Calleja Crespo, director general of the European Commission’s DG Environment, urged greater efforts to ensure consumer trust in chemicals used and reused in products.

Published On : 28-05-2019

Source : Chemical Watch