{"id":393689,"date":"2025-09-03T04:48:13","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T04:48:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/393689\/"},"modified":"2025-09-03T04:48:13","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T04:48:13","slug":"eu-fashion-regulations-and-asias-sustainability-key-industry-updates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/393689\/","title":{"rendered":"EU Fashion Regulations and Asia’s Sustainability: Key Industry Updates"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tPARIS <\/strong>\u2014 As European Union<\/a> policymakers push ahead with reforms that will impact the textile industry, the coming months will be a pivotal period for clarity on legislation aimed at shaping the future of fashion in the bloc.<\/p>\n

\n\tTwo key proposals \u2014 the Environmental Omnibus Package and the Circular Economy Act \u2014 are expected to be published before the end of the year. These should aim to \u201csimplify\u201d and harmonize regulations around waste, industrial emissions, extended producer responsibility (EPR) and the use of recycled materials.<\/p>\n

\n\tIn mid-July, the European Commission published a six-week call for evidence, catching off guard many groups and industry stakeholders.<\/p>\n

\n\tHarmonization in the registration, reporting and payment systems across different member states is widely seen as a plus for regulating textile waste and extended producer responsibility schemes, and could create an easy, single platform in the EU.<\/p>\n

\n\tHowever, concerns have been raised by industry stakeholders about a rushed and opaque consultation process, with some fearing prior targets will be watered down.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cThings are changing,\u201d said Cl\u00e9lia Ortscheidt, consultant at Ohana Public Affairs, a Brussels-based environmental legislative consultancy. \u201cA lot of people are very worried about it, and a bit concerned by the last minute, very short time period for not only asking for feedback, but also putting forward the proposal.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tThat should be released in late October or early November, but due to the short time period, will be published without an impact assessment.<\/p>\n

\n\tBrands and suppliers are watching closely to see whether the final text of the Omnibus will include the textile sector and exactly how far-reaching its impact will be.<\/p>\n

\n\tMeanwhile, the Circular Economy Act, due for formal proposal in the second half of 2026, is widely seen as more forward-looking, with ambitions to make recycled materials price competitive with virgin materials.<\/p>\n

\n\tDespite all the moving parts and uncertainty, most large brands are staying the course on their previously announced circularity and recycling strategies, she added.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"A<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tA worker stitches apparels at a garment factory in Vietnam<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n

\t\tManufacturers Stay the Course on Sustainability<\/a> Amid Tariff and <\/strong>Regulatory Uncertainty<\/strong>\t<\/p>\n

\n\tDespite growing geopolitical instability, tariffs and unclear ESG regulations, global apparel manufacturers are holding firm on their long-term sustainability<\/a> commitments, according to Cascale, the international industry organization formerly known as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition. This is despite brands reassessing supply chains in light of shifting European sustainability regulations and the whack-a-mole unpredictability of U.S. tariffs.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cWe haven\u2019t seen any backtrack,\u201d said Cascale senior director of strategic growth Lisa Domoney. \u201cWe see brands continuing with their commitments.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tManufacturers across Asia have taken lessons from the pandemic supply chain shocks, said Domoney, thus the response from key sourcing countries and manufacturers has been measured with a long-term perspective.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cThe manufacturing<\/a> community is not as panicky as before. They\u2019ve managed through these crises previously. It becomes almost business as usual. Asia has a longer-term view. We\u2019re seeing a shift in that global dynamic,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\n\tMany countries, specifically in Southeast Asia, are ready to step into a leadership role on sustainability steps as the U.S. backtracks and Europe flounders. \u201cIt has become like we\u2019re just leading through this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tInstead, manufacturers are continuing with steady progress rather than panic and continuing with decarbonization plans and factory improvements despite the shifting regulatory landscape.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cThey know that sustainable, resilient supply chains deliver longer-term competitive advantages,\u201d Domoney said. \u201cSudden disruptions undermine the progress that we\u2019ve already made within the industry. Sustainability doesn\u2019t become just a sideline; it is a business strategy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tFor example, Bangladesh<\/a>\u2019s Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association is continuing with its plans to see 50 percent of sustainable material sourcing, 30 percent GHG emissions reductions, 20 percent renewable energy and zero hazardous chemicals discharge by 2030.<\/p>\n

\n\tWhile brands are reassessing their bottom lines, Domoney emphasized the business case for long-term thinking and sticking with published commitments \u2014 even if regulations do change \u2014 and abiding by responsible purchasing practices.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cDuring any period of instability, short-term thinking is a reflex. That\u2019s what causes the harm,\u201d she said, noting the sudden sourcing shifts \u201clead to disruption, financial hardship for suppliers and broken trust.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tLooking ahead, Cascale\u2019s annual forum will address decarbonization, decent work standards, tariff impacts and audit fatigue.<\/p>\n

\n\tOn audit reform, the group is pushing for greater standardization rather than the need to obtain multiple certifications for different brands, which will be a key topic at the group\u2019s forum in Hong Kong, Sept. 15 to 17.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"SINGAPORE,<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tCascale, then Sustainable Apparel Coalition, annual meeting in Singapore in 2022.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty Images for Global Fashion<\/p>\n

\t\tIndustry Faces Compliance Countdown on the EU Digital Product Passport\t<\/p>\n

\n\tThe fashion and textile industry is bracing for a seismic shift as the EU\u2019s Digital Product Passport (DPP) legislation edges toward its 2027 compliance deadline. But with fundamental questions still unanswered and technology in flux, brands are navigating a murky regulatory future.<\/p>\n

\n\tOfficially part of the EU\u2019s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), the DPP aims to establish a standardized system of product traceability, detailing sourcing, materials, environmental impact and more. Though the umbrella legislation came into force in July 2024, sector-specific timelines vary. For textiles, mandatory compliance is slated for mid-2027.<\/p>\n

\n\tBut with just two years to go, much remains undefined.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cThere\u2019s still a lot of things unanswered,\u201d said Tim Bodil, vice president of enterprise and digital passport at e-commerce software provider Pimberly, which works with Harvey Nichols and sports retailer JD.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cThere are still a lot of questions around where the responsibility will lie in the supply chain. If your supplier doesn\u2019t give you the right level of product data, then how are you going to provide that to your consumer? All those questions are still to be answered, and there\u2019s quite a lot to do over the course of the next two years,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\n\tThat lack of clarity is particularly challenging for small and mid-sized brands, many of which lack the infrastructure to handle the necessary data and changing regional regulations.<\/p>\n

\n\tBodil said they are increasingly turning to new AI technologies to comply with upcoming regulations, including tools that can extract data from product photographs, such as identifying materials, colors and components.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cAI provides smaller brands with access to the kind of computer power and automation that was previously only available to large organizations,\u201d he explained. \u201cIt\u2019s going to help automate the process of compliance checking, sourcing validation and even consumer engagement.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tHowever, the technology is still in \u201cvery early days\u201d of application. \u201cThe biggest challenge is not the cost, it\u2019s the data. If you\u2019ve got good quality product data, then AI is going to do a much better job of understanding and interpreting that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\n\tAs for brands wondering how to prepare, the focus is still on streamlining information.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cProduct data will have a currency in the future in a way that it hasn\u2019t historically. Brands need to focus on preparing for that shift,\u201d Bodil said. \u201cBecause ultimately, it\u2019s the data that will drive compliance, differentiation and value.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"PARIS \u2014 As European Union policymakers push ahead with reforms that will impact the textile industry, the coming…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":393690,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5174],"tags":[21710,2000,299,5187,1699,5167,3695,2150],"class_list":{"0":"post-393689","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-eu","8":"tag-bangladesh","9":"tag-eu","10":"tag-europe","11":"tag-european","12":"tag-european-union","13":"tag-manufacturing","14":"tag-sustainability","15":"tag-vietnam"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115138560359935228","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/393689","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=393689"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/393689\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/393690"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=393689"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=393689"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=393689"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}