The EU shows food waste and fast fashion

This article was originally published in English

The European Union (UE) has set For the first time legally binding objectives for Member States to reduce the food waste. Legislators have agreed 30% reduction In retailers, restaurants, catering companies and homes by the end of the decade.

In the case of food processors and manufacturers, the objective for 2030 is a reduction in the 10%; Both objectives are based on the average of three years prior to 2023. According to EU estimates, more than more than 59 million tons of foodwhich is a loss of 132,000 million euros.

The reforms of the EU Waste Framework Directiveagreed this morning after a marathon negotiation session behind closed doors between MEPs and government delegates, also affect the textile industry. The new harmonized norms on expanded responsibility of the producer (RAP) force textile manufacturers and fashion brands to pay a Rate to finance the collection, classification and recycling of wastedepending on the degree of circularity and sustainability of its products.

To a measure that points directly to the practices of ‘Fast fashion‘, such as cheap and almost disposable clothes of online platforms, EU governments are also empowered to adapt these rates depending on the Durability of garments.

“Rapid market growth of Electronic commerce offers many opportunities, but also represents a important challengeespecially in terms of environmental protection, “says the agreed text.

The legislation gives margin to penalize aggressive marketing strategies that incite to get rid of the garments before they are spent, practices that according to the regulations “can lead to a Excessive consumption of textile products And, consequently, to a Excessive waste generation“.

Disappointment by the limited level of ambition reflected in the objectives

Among the criteria that can be taken into account are the amplitude of the product range offered by a retailer and the existence or not of Repair services and incentives. The defenders of the fight against waste celebrated the performance of the EU, but they were shown disappointed by the level of ambition reflected in the main objectives.

“Ten years ago, the EU and its member states promised to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including the reduction of the 50% of the Food waste throughout the supply chain“Theresa Mörsen said, head of policies of the NGO Zero Waste Europe, based in Brussels.

The group also criticized the lack of measures WASTE REDUCTION TO Production levelpointing out that EU statistics suggest that About 11% of food is wasted before leaving the farm. According to Mörsen, the performance in the textile sector also leaves “improvement margin.” “We expected the Member States to be inspired by the existing systems in France and the Netherlands and underpin the RPE with concrete objectives to achieve circularity.”

The Polish Eurodiputada Anna Zalewska, of the ultra -rightist group of European conservatives and reformists (ECR), the merit of having protected the farmers of the obligation to reduce food waste.

“We have managed to guarantee viable and realistic provisions for member states to apply food waste reduction policies and have made the agricultural sector It is not negatively affected, “he said. The agreement is provisional And it is subject to the approval of the ministers of the governments at a summit of the EU Council, a procedure that is normally a formality.