On December 5, the European Parliament and European Union (EU) member states approved new regulations to prevent fast fashion trends and reduce waste, including a ban on destroying unsold clothing.
EU approves ban on destruction of unsold clothing. Photo: AFP
The plan, announced by the European Commission last year, bans the destruction of unsold goods including textiles and footwear. The EC will also be able to extend the ban to other products. The ban will be exempted for medium-sized enterprises for six years and completely exempted for small enterprises. Businesses will have two years to adapt after the law comes into force.
The new law will also introduce specific requirements for many key consumer goods to increase product sustainability, with priority given to products with a high environmental impact such as clothing, furniture, mattresses and electronics.
Under the new rules, businesses will have to add digital codes, such as QR codes, to all their products. These will act as electronic “passports” for goods when they enter the EU market. Larger businesses will also have to report annually on how much product they throw away and why. The EU hopes this will encourage businesses to cut down on wasteful practices.
Analysts say the new rules will curb the fast fashion industry, which has become a trend as e-commerce has grown, but has a serious impact on the environment. According to the EU, the textile industry has the fourth largest impact on the environment and climate change after food production, housing and transport.
According to Tin Tuc Newspaper
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