The Dutch party D66 tabled an initiative motion for a radical reform of the clothing industry in Parliament on Black Friday. With the initiative, D66 and parliamentarian Kiki Hagen, who wrote the letter, want to revitalize the textile industry and make the Netherlands a green pioneer.
The motion contains several points that the party and the MP want to address. For example, there should be an eco-grade that indicates how sustainable a garment is. This should also not be based on existing eco-labels. In addition, D66 calls for higher fines for greenwashing clothing brands, more investment in circular brands, and honest information about what happens to returned clothing.
A member of the Lower House of the Dutch Parliament can use an initiative motion to focus on a specific topic. Parliament must respond to the motion, which can also lead to new laws being made. In any case, the legislative body, the Lower House, must discuss the issue publicly and all members must deal with the issue.
With its parliamentary initiative, D66 also calls on clothing brands to recycle materials as standard and to stop using non-reusable (micro)plastics in clothing. As a seventh point, the initiative demands that there should be requirements for the quality of clothing.
D66 wants a radical change in the Dutch clothing industry
“The transition to a circular economy requires an active role from government to prevent these types of models and create fair conditions for circular economy and sustainability leaders. This report contains a number of proposals for a government that actively builds an apparel industry that fits into a circular economy,” according to the motion. To draft the paper, party D66 and Hagen held talks with several pioneers of the circular economy over the past year , it says there.
The 24-page document also looks at transparency in the Dutch clothing industry, producer responsibility, microplastics and other pollutants, and circular chains of custody. Overall, the initiator of the letter calls on the chamber to take 16 measures.
- 1. Define what “(un)sustainable” is.
- 2. Establish information disclosure requirements for companies.
- 3. Development of an eco-score for clothing.
- 4. Introduction of higher fines for greenwashing.
- 5. Limiting the excess of markings.
- 6. Elaboration of information policies on the return of products.
- Promote an ambitious eco-design policy with product origin requirements and a phase-out path for textiles made from new fossil-based materials.
- 8. Use the extended manufacturer responsibility for a truly circular production with nationwide tariffs and a clear orientation of the value chain.
- 9. Prevention of dumping in third countries through large-scale surveys of flows of unused and used textiles inside and outside Europe.
- 10. Elaboration of rules for pre-washing of textiles.
- 11. Develop an industry standard for fiber loss and set a cap on that loss.
- 12. Mandatory use of washing machine filters and consider whether the same should apply to tumble dryers.
- 13. Inclusion of the use of chemicals in the Ecodesign Directive.
- 14. Shift to circular business models with active government support.
- 15. Examination of barriers in laws and regulations, including a new definition of waste.
- 16. Reconsider the taxation of new material versus recycled material in a European context.
This translated post previously appeared on FashionUnited.nl.