Textiles mixed in with household waste cannot be recovered for recycling.
Europeans are buying and discarding more clothing, footwear and other textiles than ever before, which is putting more pressure on the climate and environment, according to a briefing from the European Environment Agency (EEA).
”The updated consumption data highlights the need for policymakers, industry and consumers to play their role in helping Europe shift away from the fast-fashion trend, to produce better, longer lasting quality textiles which are designed to last long, and can be reused, repaired and recycled,” the EEA said.
”The impact of our current production and consumption of textiles system continues to cause high pressures on our environment and climate, including through material use, water and land use, greenhouse gas emissions, chemical and microplastics,” it added.
The average EU citizen bought 19 kilograms of clothing, footwear and household textiles in 2022, up from 17 kilograms in 2019, which is enough to fill one large suitcase per person per year, according to the EEA briefing Circularity of the EU textiles value chain in numbers.
Of the 19 kilograms, eight consisted of clothing, seven of household textiles and four of footwear.
The importance of online sales for textile production and consumption is growing. The share of turnover generated by online sales of clothing and other textiles more than doubled in the EU, from 5 percent in 2009 to 11 percent in 2022, the briefing adds. ”Online trade has increased accessibility and convenience for consumers, enabling, for example, lower prices, greater product variety and an easier returns process.”
In 2022, 11 million tons of textile products were imported to the European Union. In terms of volume, clothing accounted for almost half of the imports (45%). Household textiles accounted for 21 percent, footwear for 17 percent and other textiles (non-wovens, industrial textiles, ropes, etc.) represented the remaining 12 percent. Imports came mainly from China, Bangladesh and Turkey, the EEA points out.
In 2022, EU member states generated about 6.94 million tons of textile waste, which amounts to 16 kilograms per person. The total amount of textile waste generation has remained relatively stable since 2016.
In 2022, the capture rate was just under 15 percent. ”This means that 85 percent of all textile waste from households was not collected separately and instead ended up as mixed household waste, from which it can’t be reused or recycled,” it added.
The share of textile waste sent to landfill in Europe decreased from 21 percent in 2010 to 12 percent in 2022, and the amount sent for incineration in Europe increased from 10 percent in 2010 to 14 percent in 2022, according to the EEA.
Exports of used textiles nearly tripled from a little over 550,000 tons in 2000 to 1.4 million tons in 2019. Since then, the volume has remained relatively constant, with 1.4 million tons having been exported in 2023.
”While exports of used textiles from the EU are intended for reuse or recycling, the reality is more diverse. Studies show that EU textile exports enter a very complex pattern of trade, sorting, reuse, recycling and landfilling, as well as being burned or dumped in nature across mainly African and Asian countries,” the EEA said.
