TOPACCOLADE NEWS

The European Union (EU) has announced that they would be enacting new laws to curb the trends of fast fashion and planned obsolescence:

Fashion houses planning to sell clothes in the EU will have to ensure that the clothes they sell are Eco-friendly, durable, reusable, recyclable, and repairable.

Car companies wishing to sell their auto mobiles in the EU must cut emissions, make the cars easier for the average motorist to repair, be hybrid or electric powered, manufacture more spare parts than cars, and use Eco-friendly interior furnishings.

Tech companies planning to sell digital gadgets in the EU must make sure that they get regular service updates as new models come out, that phones are easier to repair, and to stop marketing smart phones as “Status Symbols”.

Consumers would be given proper instructions on how to reuse, repair, and recycle their clothes, cars, and tech gadgets.

The EU also plans to introduce new textile rules to curb fast fashion, and increase the life span of jeans and jackets.

According to the European Environment Agency (EEA): “Clothes in Europe have on average the fourth highest impact on the environment and climate.

For every person in the EU, textile consumption requires 9 cubic metres of water, 400 square meters of land, 391kg of raw materials, and causes a carbon footprint of about 270kg”.

Here in the UK, politicians have called on the government to also change the laws regarding fast fashion and planned obsolescence.

However since 2019 when the proposals started, not a single one has been passed.