Textile and Recycling

On June 10, 2025, the French Senate overwhelmingly approved a law targeting ultra-fast fashion platforms such as China’s Shein and Temu, imposing advertising bans and new environmental obligations. The legislation seeks to address the environmental harm caused by mass-produced, low-cost clothing and introduces specific restrictions for non-EU platforms. The Senate version distinguishes between “ultra” fast…

This year’s Global Fashion Summit in Copenhagen, held under the theme “barriers and bridges,” reflected the fashion industry’s blend of optimism and disillusionment. Attendees voiced concerns over falling behind on climate goals and criticized the rollback of environmental policies in the EU and US as weakening momentum. A key shift in this year’s event was…

The inaugural Textile Recycling Fair was held in Brussels on June 4–5, 2025, marking a turning point for the sector with 126 participants from 67 countries and 3,336 visitors. The event began with opening remarks by Aurel Ciobanu‑Dordea, Director of the European Commission’s Circular Economy Directorate, bringing together waste management giants, recycling firms, producers, and…

The fashion industry is caught between tradition and technology in its choice of core materials: cotton or polyester. Cotton has long been celebrated as a natural, biodegradable, and renewable fiber, but it faces criticism over its high water consumption and environmentally taxing agricultural practices. As global cotton production stalls at around 25 million tons annually,…

Global Standard, the nonprofit organization behind the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), has released its 2024 Annual Report, highlighting significant advancements in sustainable textile certification and organizational strategy. In 2024, GOTS Version 7.0 was fully implemented, marking a milestone in due diligence and sustainability criteria. Concurrently, the revision process for GOTS Version 8.0 commenced, aiming…

After five years of development and two rounds of public consultation, the European Commission has officially published the Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR) for Apparel and Footwear. This long-anticipated release provides a harmonized methodology for assessing the environmental impact of textile and footwear products across the European Union. Unlike France’s national system—which remains a…

We are pleased to invite all industry stakeholders to attend two sessions on Better Cotton’s Chain of Custody (CoC) Certification. The sessions will be delivered by our expert team at USB Certification.Date: Wednesday, June 11, 2025Time:• 11:00 AM – Better Cotton Chain of Custody Certification for Suppliers (English)• 14:00 – Better Cotton Tedarikçiler için Tedarik…

The fashion industry significantly contributes to environmental degradation, consuming vast water resources and emitting substantial carbon emissions. In response, international organizations like the UNECE and UNEP are promoting transparency and sustainability through initiatives such as the Sustainability Pledge and the Forests4Fashion program. The UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion emphasizes the importance of ethical labor practices…

Kering, the French luxury conglomerate, has launched the fashion industry’s first comprehensive water strategy, aiming to become “water positive” by 2050. This initiative focuses on three pillars: adopting regenerative agriculture for raw materials, establishing water resilience labs in 10 global freshwater basins—including Tuscany, India, and Mongolia—by 2035, and implementing stewardship programs to enhance water quality…

The European Union has agreed on new regulations to reduce textile and food waste, making “Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)” mandatory. Under the new rules, within 30 months, producers selling textile products will be held accountable for collecting, sorting, and recycling post-consumer waste. Similar obligations will apply to food waste reduction and reuse. These measures support…