Less is more: Taking a sufficiency approach in EU textiles policy
The textiles industry is too big to be sustainable. In our report we unpick the unsustainable and unfair status quo and reimagine a sector that uses fewer resources but promotes more creativity and collaboration, ensuring dignity and social justice for all.
📄 Less is more: Taking a sufficiency approach in EU textiles policy
Carbon emissions from clothing and footwear are more than double the level compatible with the Paris Agreement 1.5-degree target. These emissions are projected to rise even further as the textile industry plans more production of new items every year. Brands’ voluntary commitments have so far focused on efficiency gains and are not enough to meaningfully reduce the environmental impact of the sector.
Reducing the material footprint is essential to not only decrease greenhouse gas emissions, but to also make the sector more circular and reduce the pressure on primary resources, energy use, pollution, and waste generation. Recalibrating the system towards sufficient levels of resource use should go hand in hand with a just transition.
