Why Fashion Sectors Are Embracing EPR For Treating Textile Waste?

Role of EPR in Addressing Textile Waste in Europe??

The acceptance of EPR regulations within European Union (EU) based fashion brands has now become a priority. The primary objective behind introducing EPR to manage textile waste in the EU includes some of the following factors shared below

• Survey claims that around 92 million tons of textile waste is generated annually, which is less than 1% of recycling new clothing?
• Encourage product take-back program to establish harmonized system for collection, of used textile clothing
• Promote textile recycling into new products and incentivize brands to repair, recycle or upcycle new products
• Deploy waste reduction initiatives to design sustainable attires?

Role of Textile PRO Forum in Managing Textile Waste?

Recently, the Textile PRO Forum of the EU (European Union) made a sustainable commitment to treat textile waste by complying with the EU’s EPR regulations. The primary objectives behind Textile PRO’s sustainable approach to treat textile waste have been shared below-?

• Impose harmonization and best practices to create a unified approach for imposing EPR rule across Europe?
• Establish common standards by sharing effective strategies and reducing administrative burden for businesses operating in various countries?
• Avoid patchwork of different regulations to create a sustainable waste management framework??
• Accept EPR models within existing EU member states to navigate complexities difficult for any business?
• Create a circular economy to avoid unethical and unplanned disposal of textile waste?
• Reduce administrative burden and harmonize approaches to implement eco-modulation fees?

Just like the European Union, India too has a well-defined EPR framework to address various categories of waste. In fact, the Pune Municipal Corporation recently decided to dedicate a waste processing facility for managing textile waste.

Let’s find out the innovative textile waste recycling mechanism adopted by Pune city.

Pune Municipality’s Action Plan for Sustainable Textile Waste Treatment

• PMC (Pune Municipal Corporation’s) dedicated textile waste processing unit aims to manage 100-125 tons of textile waste daily?
• Common textile waste like sofa cushions, mattresses, cloths, leather bags, and shoes will undergo eco-friendly processing
• Segregate textile waste from other categories of solid waste to initiate effective recycling?
• The Pune Municipality is waiting for MPCB’s permission to assure environmental safety and compliance
• Already an estimated amount of 3-4 crore INR has been invested in the project to treat textile waste in the city

Conclusion

Understanding Extended Producers Responsibility for eco-conscious treatment of textile waste is no longer a choice rather than a necessity now. Western countries like the European Union have already defined a specific EPR framework to treat textile waste sustainably.?

A few cities like Pune India have started following EPR regulations to recycle or treat textile waste to reduce the Co2 emissions. It’s the only hope for the country to ensure a greener future.