BRUSSELS – Signatories to the Make the Label Count initiative have sent a joint letter to the European Commission warning that “textile legislation could give licence to greenwashing” should their strategy for a sustainable and circular sector fail to address key impact areas.
Their letter – signed by Cotton Australia, IWTO and the Changing Markets Foundation – says that if the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) is to be the predominant tool used to assess environmental claims, then it must encompass data on microplastic release, plastic waste and circularity.
“Omission of indicators linked to synthetic clothing, including microplastics, plastic waste and circularity will result in clothing made from fossil materials being shown as more sustainable, guiding well-intended consumers to buying more rather than less of the clothing primarily responsible for fast fashion,” the organisations said.
