News item | 04-12-2024 | 09:45
Clothing that lasts longer, is easier to repair and can ultimately be reused and recycled, resulting in less waste. This is being worked on, both in the Netherlands and in the rest of Europe.
In the Circular Textiles policy programme, which State Secretary Chris Jansen (Public Transport and Environment) sent to the House of Representatives today, he presents an overview of measures that should help to meet the challenges surrounding textiles and the environment in the near future.
More and more clothing, increasingly poor quality
The clothing sector is bursting at the seams, with all its consequences for the environment. Every year, more clothing and shoes are produced, purchased and discarded than the year before. More and more poor quality textiles are entering the market, mainly due to the rise of international e-commerce parties. These items are of such low quality that they are hardly suitable for long-term use or recycling. The collection, sorting and recycling sector in the Netherlands is already feeling the consequences of this.
The Netherlands is working towards a circular economy by 2050. There is still a lot of work to be done in the clothing sector to achieve this goal. The Circular Textile policy program sets out the steps that will be taken both nationally and in Europe in the coming years.
State Secretary Chris Jansen: “The fact that we are working towards a circular economy offers opportunities for Dutch entrepreneurs. Old revenue models are being replaced by new, innovative business cases. Focus less on the import of new, low-quality clothing and more on, for example, rental, resale and repair. I see a lot of potential for more employment in the Dutch clothing industry.”
More second-hand, fewer bad buys
In the Netherlands, for example, we are looking at how people can be encouraged to buy more second-hand and to think more consciously about whether you really need a piece of clothing. Behavioral research and campaigns must, for example, answer the question of how to prevent bad purchases and how clothing can be worn for longer.
The producers also play an important role. For example, producers must ensure that the clothing and shoes they sell are collected again for reuse and recycling. In this way we ensure that we make optimal use of valuable raw materials and we support the collection, sorting and recycling sector in the Netherlands. It also looks at how circular entrepreneurs in the Netherlands can be helped so that they can better compete with cheap clothing suppliers who are less concerned with quality, the environment and sustainability.
Smart design and repair
In recent years, the Netherlands has worked hard in Europe on measures to make the textile industry future-proof, and continues to do so.
Design requirements for textiles will be introduced at European level in the coming years. This means that all products in Europe must meet minimum quality requirements. This concerns, for example, how long clothing should last, the minimum amount of recycled material clothing should contain, and whether it should be easily repairable. Thanks to a European product passport, consumers have access to information about the sustainability of textiles, such as the origin and use of materials. Finally, a European ban will apply on the destruction of unsold textiles.