NextFin news, BRUSSELS — On Tuesday, the European Parliament adopted a new law aimed at combating food and textile waste across the European Union. The legislation sets binding targets for member states to reduce food waste by 30% per capita at retail, restaurant, and household levels, and by 10% in food processing and manufacturing by the year 2030, compared to 2021-2023 levels.
The law also introduces extended producer responsibility schemes for the textile sector, requiring producers to finance the collection, sorting, and recycling of textile waste, including clothing and footwear. The legislation targets the environmental impact of fast fashion, which contributes significantly to textile waste in the EU.
According to European Union estimates, the bloc generates nearly 60 million tonnes of food waste annually, averaging 132 kilograms per person, and 12.6 million tonnes of textile waste, with clothing and footwear accounting for 5.2 million tonnes or 12 kilograms per person each year. Less than 1% of textiles worldwide are currently recycled into new products.
The legislation was adopted in Brussels after negotiations between the European Parliament, the European Commission, and the 27 member states. While the Parliament initially proposed more ambitious reduction targets of 40% for retail and consumption and 20% for processing, a compromise was reached to set the targets at 30% and 10%, respectively.
Member states have the flexibility to choose how to meet these targets, with suggested measures including promoting the sale of 'ugly' fruits and vegetables, clarifying food date labeling, and donating unsold but consumable food to charities. However, no binding targets were set for the agricultural sector, a decision criticized by environmental groups such as WWF.
Marine Thizon, representing Hotrec, the European hospitality industry lobby, emphasized the importance of consumer awareness, noting that over 50% of food waste in Europe occurs at the household level.
Regarding textiles, the law requires member states to implement extended producer responsibility schemes by mid-2028. These schemes hold producers financially accountable for the end-of-life management of textiles, aiming to increase recycling rates and reduce environmental harm caused by ultra-fast fashion imports, particularly from China.
Laurent Castillo, a French Member of the European Parliament, highlighted the environmental and economic risks posed by ultra-fast fashion, stating it endangers European firms and contributes to pollution.
The law updates a 2008 EU directive on waste and expands its scope to include the textile industry for the first time. It also aligns with broader EU efforts to reduce environmental impacts, such as water consumption, noting that producing a single cotton T-shirt requires approximately 2,700 liters of water.
The legislation was passed without amendments and represents a significant step in the EU's efforts to promote sustainability and circular economy principles.
Sources: l'Opinion (published Tuesday), Fibre2Fashion (published Tuesday), Punch Newspapers (published Tuesday), Big News Network (published Tuesday).
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