Europe to accelerate drive towards textiles circularity

BRUSSELS – The Council of the European Union has given the green light to accelerate the transition of key sectors, including textiles, towards a circular economy and says it will encourage the use of economic instruments, such as taxation and extended producer responsibility schemes in order to achieve this goal. 

By adoption the conclusions from the 8th Environment Action Programme which provides political guidance for the EU’s environment and climate change policies, the Council says it’s now asked the European Commission to come up with an “ambitious long-term strategic framework,” including a common vision for a circular economy and to adopt a new circular economy action plan with specific, targeted actions for a range of industry sectors.

“Overconsumption, global warming and the loss of biodiversity are different aspects of the same problem,” noted Krista Mikkonen, Minister of Environment and Climate of Finland, “The circular economy provides solutions. A value chain approach and life-cycle thinking can help us redesign our economies with the aim of moving to a climate-neutral and fair society.”