EU countries back ban on destruction of unsold textiles
(VOVWORLD) - European Union governments agreed on Monday that the bloc should ban the destruction of unsold textiles, part of the EU's green push towards reducing waste through greater reuse and recycling.
 Clothes with discount signs are displayed at a shop in Cambrai on the first day of summer sales in France, June 30, 2021. (REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol) |
Textile consumption in Europe has the fourth highest impact on the environment and climate change after food, housing and mobility.
About 5.8 million tonnes of textiles are discarded every year in the EU, approximately 11kg per person, much of it put into landfill or incinerated.
The new law would also create a new "digital product passport" showing a product's environmental sustainability to help consumers make more informed choices.
The European Commission has said the destruction of unsold consumer products, such as textiles and footwear, is becoming a widespread problem across the EU, particularly due to the rise of online sales.
France already has an anti-waste law that bans the destruction of unsold non-food products.