“Beyond circular fashion – Why we need to end overproduction” webinar on 14 March 2023

The current model of fast fashion is one of the main drivers of overconsumption, resource depletion and social exploitation.

Legislative initiatives aimed at restructuring the sector – like the EU strategy for sustainable textiles – focus on more sustainable products via eco-design rules and waste management of textile products. However, during the last decades, the use of cheap synthetic fibres has been fueling the current business model based on overproduction, combined with limited accountability for negative environmental and social impacts.

This overproduction represents the biggest environmental impact of the fashion sector, way ahead of the impact of end-of-life management. Since overproduction is a systemic feature of a growth-dependent business model, it becomes apparent that the current legislative measures and the latest EU textiles strategy leave this most significant point unaddressed.

Building on the best practices in the European market, Zero Waste Europe has identified four criteria which, when applied simultaneously, could be considered as key to identifying a virtuous business model: 1. Design for physical and emotional durability; 2. Demand-driven production to phase out unsolds and discounts; 3. Full supply chain transparency and traceability post-sale; 4. Extending the use-phase after first ownership.

With this webinar we opened the discussion about our recent ‘Beyond circular fashion’ report with stakeholders from business and academia and particularly go into greater depth to answer these key questions:

What does a sustainable fashion business model look like?
What challenges do sustainable businesses face?
How can governments and legislation support the transition?

Speakers

Julia Faure, CEO and co-founder of Loom

Julia Faure is the co-founder of the ethical clothing brand Loom. She is also an active member of the En Mode Climat movement, a “virtuous lobby” for the textile industry.

Anna Härri, doctoral researcher at LUT University

Anna Härri is driven by a desire to build fairer global supply chains. She is finishing her doctoral studies at LUT University in Finland. Her research focuses on understanding how we can build just and sustainable circular textile systems. Before academia she spent years in the NGO world, trying advance sustainability in the textile and electronics industries. Her work has taken her to cobalt mines in the DRC and several textile factories in India.

See Anna’s presentation here

Theresa Mörsen, Waste Policy Officer at Zero Waste Europe

Theresa Mörsen is Waste Policy Officer at ZWE. She is following policy developments at the EU level and is involved in advocacy with the EU institutions. In particular, developments regarding the EU textiles strategy, EPR and collection of textiles.

See Theresa’s presentation here

Joan Marc Simon, Director-Founder at Zero Waste Europe

Joan Marc Simon is a serial social entrepreneur and author based in
Brussels where he co-directs the work of Zero Waste Europe. He has
been a leading voice for Zero Waste in Europe since 2007 and he is a
regular speaker in many industry and NGO meetings in Brussels but
also at local level as well as internationally. He is member of the
Steering Committee of the Break Free from Plastic movement.
With a background in Economics, he has decades of experience
working with governmental and non-governmental organisations in
the field of good governance, new economics, social justice, and
environment.

See Joan Marc’s presentation here