French Senate clears bill to cut textile sector's environmental impact

Senators in the upper house of parliament voted almost unanimously for a modified version of the bill, which was examined by the Senate's committee on regional planning and sustainable development last March.

“The aim of this text is to limit the phenomenon of express fashion and limit the increase in volumes placed on the market as well as the negative externalities of these modes of production and consumption,” the French Senate’s website said.

To this end, the proposed law intends to strengthen consumer information and awareness on the environmental impact of fast fashion, as well as on the possibilities of reusing and repairing clothing and accessories; expand the possibilities of modulating eco-contributions according to the environmental impact of clothing; and prohibit advertising for companies and products related to fast fashion, the website said.

If implemented, the law would ban advertising by fast-growing Chinese e-commerce platforms as well. The amended version of the bill distinguishes between ‘ultra’ fast fashion and ‘classic’ fast fashion.

The Senate has decided to direct contributions towards recycling facilities located in France rather than towards financing collection and recycling infrastructure in countries outside the European Union. This would promote the development of national recycling capacities.

It will favour a less punitive and more balanced approach, with a framework for advertising fast fashion: prohibit the promotion of fast fashion products by influencers, who today constitute one of the main relays for these brands; and impose summary information on the environmental impact of fast fashion products in advertising methods.

The government needs to notify the European Commission of the vote, and will then need to set up a joint committee to reach a compromise between the Senate and lower house versions of the law before it is implemented.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (DS)