EuRIC Textiles, European waste management association, FEAD, and retailer Decathlon have issued a joint position paper emphasising on the need for consistent application of the Waste Framework Directive (WFD) to maximise its impact. These advocate for uniform rules and full participation from all stakeholders to eliminate loopholes and ensure effective implementation.

The position paper highlights the WFD revision as a key opportunity to standardise practices across the EU, enhance sector competitiveness, and address pressing challenges. These include global disruptions like the war in Ukraine, logistical hurdles in Africa, and the rapid rise of ultra-fast fashion.

The coalition has outlined critical priorities including establishing a level playing field for all actors in Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes, setting concrete criteria to differentiate between ‘used’ and ‘waste’ textiles and implementing well-designed EPR schemes to drive investment in recycling infrastructure and improve traceability of discarded textiles.

Claudia Mensi, President, FEAD, underscored the environmental and economic importance of textile recycling noting, EU discards five million tons of clothing annually, with only 1 per cent recycled into new garments. According to her textile recycling is both an environmental necessity and an economic opportunity which the industry and policymakers need to capitalise on through collaboration.

Emphasising on the need to scale up textile sorting and recycling, Julia Ettinger, Secretary General, EuRIC also recommended introduction of efficient EPR schemes. Emilie Mufflet, Sustainability Director, Decathlon termed the WFD revision a unique chance to foster innovation in textile waste management.

The coalition urged EU policymakers to expedite negotiations and finalise targeted revisions to the WFD, laying the groundwork for a more sustainable and innovative textile waste industry.