Introduction:
France plans to implement a “climate label” next year, which will require every piece of clothing sold to have a “label detailing its impact on the climate.” It is expected that other EU countries will introduce similar regulations by 2026.
France’s Ministry for Ecological Transition (Ademe) is currently testing 11 proposals on how to collect and compare data to predict what labels might look like to consumers.
Erwan Autret, coordinator of Ademe, told AFP: Such labeling will be mandatory, so brands need to be prepared so that their products are traceable and data can be aggregated automatically. ”
According to the United Nations, the fashion industry accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions, and water consumption and waste also account for a high proportion. Environmental advocates say labeling could be a key element in solving the problem.
Victoire Satto of The Good Goods, a media outlet focused on sustainable fashion, said: “This will force brands to become more transparent and informed…collect data and build long-term relationships with suppliers – things they are not used to doing. .”
“Right now, it looks like this problem is extremely complex… but we’re already seeing it being used in other industries like medical supplies,” she added.
The textile industry has been coming up with various technological solutions in terms of sustainability and transparency. A recent presentation at Paris textile conference Premiere Vision mentioned a number of new processes, including non-toxic leather tanning, dyes derived from fruit and waste materials, and even biodegradable underwear that can be thrown on the compost pile.
But Ariane Bigot, associate director of fashion at Premiere Vision, says the key to sustainability is using the right fabrics to make the right garments. This means synthetic and petroleum-based fabrics will still have a place.
So capturing all this information on a simple label on a piece of clothing is tricky. “It’s complicated, but we need the help of machines,” Bigot said.
Ademe will have until next spring to compile the results of its testing phase before turning them over to lawmakers. While many people approve of these regulations, environmental advocates say they should only be part of broader restrictions on the fashion industry.
Valeria Botta of the Environmental Coalition on Standards said: “It’s really good to emphasize product life cycle analysis, but we need to do more than labeling.”
“The focus should be on setting clear rules on product design, banning the worst products from entering the market, prohibiting the destruction of returns and unsold goods, and setting production limits,” she told AFP.
“Consumers shouldn’t have to worry too much about finding a sustainable product, that’s our default rule,” Botta added.
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