Climate change and its negative environmental consequences represent one of the greatest challenges of our time. In response to this threat, in particular in the context of the Commission's December 2019 Communication on the European Green Deal, the Commission called for The EU calls for accelerated and strengthened action to ensure environmental sustainability and social responsibility. A systemic transition to a circular economy and decarbonisation plays a key role in this effort, especially in resource-intensive sectors such as textiles and food.

Textile industry under the microscope of climate change

The textile sector is among the four most resource-intensive sectors. The pressures and impacts related to the consumption of clothing and textiles in the EU are reflected globally through their impact on the climate and the environment. The current inefficient management of textile waste is not in line with the waste hierarchy and leads to environmental damage, including through greenhouse gas emissions from incineration and landfilling.

Significant changes are being introduced to address this problem, which is hindering decarbonisation. The new rules, which amend Directive 2008/98/EC on waste, set out extended producer responsibility (EPR) for textile, textile-related and footwear products. The aim of the RZV is to ensure a high level of environmental protection, to create an economy focused on collection, sorting, reuse and recycling.

Extended lifespan as a decarbonization tool

Preventing the creation of textile waste, preparing it for reuse and recycling it are ways to help reduce the sector's global environmental footprint. Ensuring that textile products can and are used and reused for longer is the most effective way to significantly reduce their impact on the climate and the environment..

RZV schemes should financially support research and development in the field of ecodesign, sorting and recycling, with the aim of increasing the recycling rate of fibres in a closed loop. Producers' financial contributions should be adjusted on the basis of ecodesign requirements that are most relevant in terms of waste prevention and circularity.

Proper disposal of biodegradable textiles is also particularly important. Textile products that cannot be recycled should not end up in landfills, because biodegradable textiles are a source of methane emissions.

Reducing food waste

The food sector is also resource-intensive. Member States have committed to taking action to reduce food waste in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 12.3, which aims to halve per capita food waste by 2030.

Reducing food waste throughout the food supply chain has significant positive impact on the environmentTo achieve this progress, quantified targets are set for Member States to achieve by 2030:

• Reducing food waste in processing and production by 10 % compared to the average from 2021 to 2023.
• Reducing food waste per capita by 30 % (together in retail and other distribution, restaurants, food services and households) compared to the average from 2021 to 2023.

These measures require systemic solutions and strengthening of interventions aimed at changing consumer behavior, as well as support for technological solutions (e.g. active packaging extending shelf life).

The EU strategy on waste management and the circular economy, formalised in Directive (EU) 2025/1892, clearly links environmental objectives to the fight against climate change. From decarbonisation to reducing methane emissions from landfills, the overall effort to decouple waste generation from economic growth and to move towards a sustainable circular economy is key to protecting the environment and health in the Union. The EU also committed to assessing further options to strengthen these measures, including considering the possibility of setting waste prevention and textile recycling targets by 2029. JRi