EU Green Deal intends to reduce textile waste by half

The European Union’s “Green Deal” places textiles as a top priority in the EU’s plans to reduce its waste by 50 percent by 2030. Leading the EU’s efforts to become the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050, Frans Timmermans, the executive vice president of the European Commission, recently spoke to European lawmakers in Brussels about the need to increase the amount of materials recovered and recycled in the EU economy, Reuters has reported.

Along with textiles, batteries and packaging are also high on the list of products to address. Under the new plan, the Commission will present initiatives for prolonging the life of products and will encourage consumers to seek repairs. 

France has already become the first country in the world to commit to introducing filters on new washing machines by January 2025, according to the Reuters report. This will reduce the spread of plastic microfibers from synthetic clothing, which comprise a third of plastic particles that end up in waste waters and oceans.

On March 20, the European Commission will present its circular economy plan and a new European industrial strategy.