Discarded clothing will start being collected by the biggest fashion companies in Spain from April next year as part of a voluntary pilot scheme for the management of textile waste, which is foreseen by the EU regulation due to come into force in 2026.
Zara’s strategy
Zara owner Inditex, H&M, Decathlon, IKEA and Primark are among the 10 brands to join the scheme.
This is the pilot Re-viste, which provides for the separation of textile products and shoes from the rest of the waste, so that they can be reused or recycled.
Marta Gomez, director of quality and environmental assessment at Spain’s energy ministry, told fashion leaders at an event in Madrid that the country is now awaiting final approval of the new EU regulation, which will require member states to separate textile products from other waste before issuing rules to fashion companies, which will cover the costs of managing textile waste.
One bin for every 1,200 inhabitants
The EU regulations will not take effect until 2026, as authorities will give companies at least a year to adapt, government officials and fashion industry sources said.
“The regulations show us the way, but we decided not to wait to comply with the legal requirements,” said Andres Fernandez, president of Re-viste and head of sustainability at retailer Mango, which is also participating in the political program.
In Spain, only 12% of used clothes are collected separately and 88% end up in landfill, according to official figures. Each resident of Spain throws away 20 kilograms of clothes a year compared to an average of seven kilograms in Europe, authorities say.
During the one-year trial, Re-viste plans to install dozens of bins in churches, shops, malls and streets to collect the waste in bags and transport it to factories for sorting. Once the legislation is in place, fashion companies estimate that Spain will need one laundry bin for every 1,200 residents.
Source: ot.gr
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