The European Apparel and Textile Organization (EURATEX) has commended the European Parliament’s (EP) work on the Eco-design Regulation. However, it has raised reservations about the EP’s decision to target the textile industry in a rule intended to serve as a foundation for other industries. According to a news statement from the organization, the Eco-design Regulation intends to enhance the environmental sustainability and circularity of items put on the European Union (EU) market, including textiles.
EURATEX, which represents 160,000 European textile firms, has been emphasizing that a successful regulatory framework is built on an inclusive and practical approach, assures adequate capacity, and establishes a deadline for businesses to react. As a result, EURATEX supports MEPs’ appeal for specialized support and a smooth transition for small and medium-sized firms (SMEs). The EP also enhanced market monitoring requirements, which are critical for guaranteeing a fair playing field for EU enterprises in the single market, as strongly pushed by EURATEX.
As businesses already struggle to manage all of the ongoing policy and legislative measures, EURATEX expressed gratitude to the EP for its efforts to maintain legal consistency, the lack of which may only result in more expenses and administrative burdens for firms. The future Eco-design Forum’s inclusion and transparency have undoubtedly gained a boost.
EURATEX expressed its displeasure that the EP ignored the appeal for legislative consistency on compounds of concern and for maintaining the ESPR consistent with existing chemical legislation to prevent overlapping or contradictory regulation. According to EURATEX, social sustainability issues should be handled within the due diligence legislation framework.
Future Eco-design criteria for textiles must be based on trustworthy data and backed by extensive study and effect evaluations. The requirements should be outlined in the textile-specific Delegated Act and created in collaboration with relevant parties.
EURATEX will continue to emphasize the guiding concept of ‘fit-for-purpose’ laws and the balance between high environmental objectives and company competitiveness as the ESPR trialogue talks between the EP, the Council of the EU, and the European Commission unfold in the autumn.
Furthermore, MEPs endorsed the EP’s position on the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) on July 11 with 396 votes in support, 102 against, and 131 abstentions. The inclusion of freestanding finishing plants in the scope of the new IED has caused EURATEX to raise its reservations about the legislation.
This generates contradictions with the recently completed Textile BREF agreement (approved by all parties in Sevilla), which controls industrial emissions for both pretreatment and finishing operations. Standalone finishing firms, often SMEs, are now facing difficulties in meeting requirements that were originally established for distinct and larger organizations.
