LONDON – The UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has unveiled plans for a new nationwide Waste Prevention Programme, which would "ramp up action on fast fashion and hold manufacturers accountable for textile waste".
DEFRA's proposals would require both government and industry to "take action" across seven key sectors including textiles, plastics and packaging, with stakeholders to be consulted on the potential for for an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme by the end of the year.
Environment Minister Rebecca Pow said: “We are firmly committed to ending the ‘throwaway’ culture as we build back greener. Major retailers and fashion brands have made strides in reducing their environmental footprint but there is more we must do. That is why, through our world-leading Environment Bill and landmark reforms, we will take steps to tackle fast fashion by incentivising recycling and encouraging innovation in new design.”
