UNDERSTANDING THE
SECONDHAND CLOTHING IN EUROPE
According to the EU Commission it is estimated that 12.6 MILLION TONNES OF TEXTILE WASTE ARE GENERATED EACH YEAR IN EUROPE. The European Union, in its efforts to create more responsible and environmentally friendly industries, has been developing various regulations and directives in pursuit of green and circular businesses across its member states.
Regarding the management of textiles, the EU has decided to implement EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY (EPR) for textiles, according to which the responsibility for textile waste no longer falls on consumers or national governments, but on textile producers. This regulation has already been implemented by some countries, such as France, Latvia, Hungary, and the Netherlands.
Through a docuseries of 5 episodes Garson & Shaw explores the potential consequences of these new regulations on the textile industry, as well as their repercussions for the secondhand clothing industry, which for decades has been a key player in the management of post-consumer textiles, from their collection, management, and distribution not only locally but also globally. What does the secondhand clothing trade in Europe mean for collectors, sorters, and retailers? What are the implications for international trade? How can we continue to reuse as many textiles as possible? It is crucial to understand that the secondhand clothing industry is global and that what happens in one place affects others.
A distinction will be established between waste and product… And this will be addressed by the directive end-of-waste (EoW) which will determine exactly at what point in the chain textile is not waste, and this has significant implications for the industry and the reuse sector.
RAFAEL MAS. PROJECT & EXTERNAL RELATIONS COORDINATOR, HUMANA SPAIN.
The combination of these different policy measures will have far-reaching consequences for the main EU importing countries of used textiles, impacting the entire international value chain in which multiple actors trade with secondhand clothing.
Check out our first episode and understand the European context of post-consumer trade.
There are multiple companies COLLECTING & GRADING USED CLOTHING IN EUROPE who are dedicated to the conscious management and distribution of POSTCONSUMER TEXTILES, either in thrift stores or exporting to other markets, constantly looking for a second life for millions of used garments.
80% OF USED CLOTHING EXPORTED BY THE EU IS SOLD IN INFORMAL MARKETS IN AFRICA.
But if the European Union says “we want more people to buy used clothing within the EU, at the same time we will go to ban textiles from landfill and from incineration as well” What you are risking there is in the meantime you have business and individuals in other parts of the world who want that used clothing but are no longer able to get it… they may have to buy cheap ultra fast fashion and that is a really real danger to the environment and also to job creation and economic opportunities for those who are already employed in the used clothing trade in those countries. IT WOULDN’T RESOLVE THE ISSUE THAT SOME PEOPLE HOPE IT WOULD.
ALAN WHEELER: CEO, TEXTILE RECYCLING ASSOCIATION, UNITED KINGDOM.
Watch the five episodes and find out why the work the secondhand clothing industry has been doing is vital and must continue. FOR A GREENER WORLD.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAwq1DEnQlep8bGnK-zJmJmDjfrdQf-JR