Public consultation on the EU strategy for sustainable textiles

The European Commission is seeking stakeholders’ views on the EU strategy for sustainable textiles. Feedback regarding this topic can be provided on the EU Commission’s ‘Have your say’ website by 4 August 2021.

In the context of sustainable textiles, IFOAM Organics Europe published its Position paper on organic textile – protecting the credibility of the organic label in December 2017. The main recommendations of this position paper recognise that “in the European Union (EU), the use of the term ‘organic’ in relation to textiles is not protected in the same way as it is for the food chain”. As such, “there is a need to improve credibility, and thus ensure that when the term organic is used in this sector, it relates to the whole production and processing chain, just as is the case for certified organic food and drink products. As a first step, IFOAM Organics Europe recommends that for fibre to be called ‘organic’, it should be produced according to globally recognised organic regulations”.