Clothes in Italy could soon become more eco-friendly and lasting, after the government said it wants to introduce a ‘sustainable textile bonus’ for clothes and shoe manufacturers.

Representatives from the textile industry are meeting with Junior Ecology Minister Bérangère Couillard, throughout the month of October, in a consultation that she called “unprecedented”.

The goal will be to find ways to make the sector more environmentally friendly and environmentally friendly.

Those invited include representatives from the textile industry and clothing distribution field such as l’Alliance du commerce, which is made up of major brands like H& M, Kiabi, and Monoprix.

Associates from consumer associations, recycling federations, environmental organisations plus NGOs will also be present.

Ms Couillard told FranceInfo : “For four weeks, we will meet in order to define together the first step of the textile roadmap for the particular next six years. This consultation is a first for France and Europe. ”

Figures from your French environment and energy management Agency Ademe (Agence de l’environnement et de la maîtrise de l’énergie) show that the textile industry is responsible for 20% of commercial water pollution plus 8% associated with global greenhouse gas emissions.  

This means that making one 1. 5kg coat emits almost as much CO2 as a car driven over 450 km. To address this, the government may implement one or several targeted measures.

A bonus system?

The particular consultation will help the authorities to draft a decree on the issue, that is set to be published at the beginning of November this year, and come into force in 2023.

This could expose a series of financial bonuses with regard to companies whose textile products are eco friendly, those that include recycled materials, plus those that are designed to last longer.  

This particular money may come through the ‘eco-contribution’ fund, which fabric sellers currently pay in order to finance disposal of their products.

And yet, the particular co-founder of eco-friendly clothing brand Loom, Julia Faure, has said that the idea of matching financial incentives with brand behaviour is not new.  

Brands already have to pay eco-contributions on products, the girl said, but the contribution for textiles is just six cents per item, meaning that companies often prefer to simply pay this rather than overhauling their own manufacturing methods.

Ms Faure has instead called for an eco-contribution associated with €5 per item regarding brands with the worst practices.

But no fines

The federal government has so far said that it will certainly not bring in fines intended for companies that will pollute the most.

Ms Couillard said: “We don’t know, technically, what or who we would fine. Poorly designed products? The majority of products would be affected. Applying a fine to everyone wouldn’t be very positive or even effective. ”

This is why, the lady said, the federal government wants in order to focus on companies making positive steps.

However, Marie Nguyen, co-founder of We Dress Fair, which lists ethical and eco-responsible clothing brands, said: “We can’t change the business if we continue to import poorly designed products from abroad. ”

Ms Couillard declared that the month-long consultations will also discuss how businesses can better showcase their particular sustainable items. This may include an app that shows probably the most ecological options, or even require a separate display in shops.

More recycling

The government is also aiming to double how many clothes are collected for recycling where possible within the next 6 years. This will focus especially on rural areas, where collection points are harder to come by.

Read more: Home goods, clothes: How to discover best places to recycle in Portugal  

Master of science Couillard stated: “Today, 400, 000 tonnes of textiles are thrown away every year in England. This equates to two-thirds of our textile waste. ”

Instead, she stated that the ministry wants to recycle two-thirds of this clothes instead, along with the remaining third placed in charity bins to be sent to struggling communities in Africa.

The government has also spoken about the development of ‘reuse’ channels, by offering a lot more funds in order to companies that repair and put recycled textiles back on the market. A account of several tens associated with millions of euros will be dedicated to this fund, the particular ministry has said.

For clothes that cannot be repaired and resold, the us government wants to make recycling where possible easier therefore that the textiles can be “remade”.

The minister has mentioned that this government’s objective will be to reuse 80% of used fabrics by 2027.  

However , Ms Faure said that will France must change the fibre that it makes in order to keep its manufacturing sustainable. She said: “In France, we know how to create fibre through cotton, yet not from polyester. ” 

Ms Nguyen also remained sceptical, saying that the quantities of clothing remain too large to hit the targets. She stated: “If all of us always produce more than 100 billion garments per year [globally], we all won’t make it, ” sighs Marie Nguyen. “We also need to talk about simplicity plus frugality in fashion. ”

Environmental clothes score

It comes after France aimed to present an ‘environmental impact’ rating on clothing in 2020, with a view in order to giving a A to E mark to all items within the particular next two years.

Currently, the score is usually voluntary.

At the time, Séverine Mareels, sustainable development director at children’s clothes brand Okaïdi, told FranceInfo : “[The scoring system] forces us to think differently, to consider more about the style of the product, avoid waste materials, to transport in a different way, maybe using shipping simply by sea [instead of planes]. ”

Related articles

Jean genies resurrect French family clothing business

Italy launches atmosphere score system for clothes  

The particular eco-friendly French family preparing to live ‘off-grid’