A broad coalition of European and French civil society organisations is urging the European Commission to support a new French draft law designed to tackle harmful practices in the fashion industry, particularly those linked to overproduction and waste.
In an open letter, 65 NGOs and advocacy groups highlighted how rapidly rising clothing sales across Europe are generating vast quantities of unwanted garments. These surplus items, often low in resale value, are increasingly overwhelming textile collection and sorting systems, contributing to environmental pollution and strain on recycling infrastructure. Fibre2Fashion+1
The draft law aims to strengthen provisions under the revised Waste Framework Directive (WFD) by enhancing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) requirements for textiles. Under the updated directive, EU member states must establish mandatory textile EPR schemes that can vary producer fees based on product volume and eco‑design criteria a “polluter pays” approach intended to discourage wasteful production and incentivise more sustainable practices. EEB – The European Environmental Bureau
Officials and environmental advocates say that current EPR frameworks lack sufficient incentives for brands to reduce overproduction. Emily Macintosh, Senior Policy Officer for Textiles at the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), urged the Commission to back the French proposal, stating:
“The Commission must walk the talk about curbing fashion’s detrimental impacts. EPR schemes must represent real incentives for brands to change how they operate… We must act now to tackle the never‑ending stream of fashion items with no resale value flooding the global second‑hand textile market.” Fibre2Fashion
Pierre Condamine, an overproduction campaigner with Friends of the Earth France, called the proposal “a unique opportunity to truly tackle the harmful model of overproduction in the clothing industry,” and emphasised the need for the draft law to be adopted in its most ambitious form. Fibre2Fashion
The French draft law aligns with broader legislative efforts in France to regulate fast and ultra‑fast fashion due to its environmental footprint. Earlier in 2025, the French Senate backed legislation targeting ultra‑fast fashion platforms such as Shein and Temu with eco‑taxes, advertising bans, and environmental disclosure requirements, a move that has sparked discussions across the EU on sustainable fashion standards. euronews
If supported by the European Commission, the French draft law could serve as a blueprint for EU‑wide action on curbing fashion industry waste and encouraging circular business models across the continent.