Policy Breakfast at the European Parliament: Re-shaping the Fashion Industry
On 26 March, Global Fashion Agenda— in collaboration with EURATEX, Finnish Textile & Fashion, Danish Fashion & Textile and TEKO Swedish Textile & Clothing — hosted the Policy Breakfast: Re-shaping the Fashion Industry at the European Parliament. This event brought together policymakers and industry leaders for a focused conversation on how policy can enable a just and fair transition in the fashion sector.
The panel notably featured:
The discussion explored the evolving policy landscape, spotlighting key priorities such as circular business models, and the implementation of the EU Textile Strategy.
Panellists emphasised that the European textile sector has the potential to drive sustainable innovation and economic growth, but only with the right conditions in place. Coherent legislation, targeted incentives, and consistent enforcement were identified as critical enablers for companies to scale circular solutions and remain globally competitive. High energy costs, infrastructure gaps, and regulatory complexity were also highlighted as key challenges that must be addressed.
Speakers also pointed to the urgency outlined in the latest EEA reports, which show that textile consumption and waste are rising rapidly across the EU — demanding accelerated action on circular design, reuse, and the selection of better materials.
The morning underscored the importance of ongoing dialogue between industry and policymakers to build a more responsible and resilient fashion ecosystem. “Let me insist on the need for more constructive dialogues between the industry and policy makers and speed action,” expressed Federica Marcionni, CEO, GFA.
“I therefore, would like to encourage you, Members of the European Parliament, to help us create an industry that can be both creative and responsible, as well as competitive and sustainable.”
Without addressing the deeply embedded social issues interwoven with fashion industry, any vision of sustainability remains incomplete. Sustainability must be understood in all its nuance.
This article is a contribution from Next Gen Assembly 2024 Member, Harry Vine.
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