Cities across Europe are proactively addressing textile waste and promoting sufficiency, says a new report even as the future steps of the Waste Framework Directive (WFD) remain under discussion within the European Union.
- In a bid to tackle the challenges of fast fashion, some cities are beginning to explore the concept of sufficiency, furthering consumption and human well-being within planetary boundaries.
THE REPORT — Cities and consumption: Local solutions to curb textile waste and combat fast fashion — brought out by Zero Waste Europe looks at the measures that cities, important hubs for catalysing change and influencing citizen behaviour, can take to tackle the challenges of fast fashion.
- To address these challenges, some cities are beginning to explore the concept of sufficiency. Sufficiency can be defined as a set of measures and practices aimed at reducing absolute resource and energy consumption while maintaining human well-being within planetary boundaries.
- This approach goes beyond efficiency improvements, which often lead to rebound effects, and instead focuses on changing consumption patterns and social norms. In doing so, we ensure that the way we consume and produce products fits within the ecological ceiling of our planet’s finite resources while meeting a minimum threshold of social and wellbeing indicators.
- Author: Theresa Mörsen Editors: Jack McQuibban, Manon Jourdan, Nanna Bille Cornelsen.
THE EXEMPLARS: The report features several standout initiatives:
- Turku, Finland: Demonstrating a comprehensive approach, Turku invested in textile circularity infrastructure and joined over 30 mayors worldwide in signing the Slow Fashion Declaration. The city advocates for systemic change, urging entities like the EU and G7 to implement regulations that support slow fashion entrepreneurs and challenge multinational fast fashion companies.
- Nantes, France: Nantes provides public funding for the “Slow Fashion Training” programme about the environmental and social costs of fast fashion. The training was developed in partnership with the Audencia’s Positive Impact Chair with specialists from the fashion industry.
- Flanders, Belgium: Flanders provides robust public support for reuse through social enterprise schemes. By offering wage support for collecting, sorting, and preparing textiles for reuse, the region addresses key barriers to textile circularity. Flanders has set a reuse target of 8 kg per capita, achieved through designated reuse centres.
THE DO’S: The transition to a more sustainable fashion system will require a concerted effort from all sectors of society. However, by taking decisive action at the local level, cities can lead the way in reducing textile waste, promoting circular economy principles, and fostering a culture of responsible consumption that aligns with our planet's ecological limits.
- While recognising the limitations of local action in the face of a global industry, it is clear that cities' collective voice can be a powerful force for change.
