European Green Deal / A new Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP)
Governmental Agency: European Commission
Jurisdiction: European Union
Ref no: COM(2019) 640 final
Status: ADOPTED January 2020
The European Green Deal is a package of policy initiatives with the overarching aim of making the European Union climate-neutral by 2050.
These initiatives seek to create a policy framework that supports the EU as a whole in transforming the EU's economy for a sustainable future through:
- Increasing the EU's climate ambition for 2030 and 2050
- Supplying clean, affordable and secure energy
- Mobilising industry for a clean, circular economy
- Building and renovating in an energy and resource efficient way
- Mobilising research & fostering innovation
- Delivering a zero pollution ambition for a toxic-free environment
- Preserving and restoring ecosystems and biodiversity
- Ensuring a fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food system
- Accelerating the shift to sustainable and smart mobility
- Financing the transition
- Leaving no one behind (Just Transition)
Many of these initiatives will have an impact (either direct or indirect) on fashion and textiles. Hey Fashion has selected only those key policies relevant to the sector.
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As the European Green Deal is an overarching strategy, it will be left to each separate legislation (once adopted into law) to clarify exactly which businesses will be impacted.
To deliver the European Green Deal, there will be a need for businesses to rethink how they operate. It will impact a wide range of businesses throughout the lifecycle of textile products from supply chain (raw materials extraction, manufacturing, distribution, retail) through to end of life. These impacts will come primarily due to both government and industry-level drivers. The implementation of EU-level legislation with which businesses will be required to comply (eco-design, reporting & due diligence, extended producer responsibility etc).
Equally, the drive by industry & broader business to increase sustainability and circularity will have an impact on markets (e.g. financing, procurement, consumption). This will likely result in both challenges (e.g. increased transition costs, competition for materials, requirements for increased supply chain traceability) but also opportunities (green growth, financial subsidies, competitive advantage).
