ETSA News

ETSA Answers Joint Research Centre on Textile Products, thanks to input from Members

ETSA, in close consultation with its members, has actively contributed to the JRC's second milestone consultation on textile products, addressing three key workstreams: the working document of the second milestone, the questionnaire on substances and substances of concern, and the environmental and economic model, including Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs). In our response to Workstream 1, we emphasized the importance of regulatory clarity for workwear, ensuring that definitions are not overly broad or open to misinterpretation, which could create unnecessary burdens for businesses. We also stressed the need for harmonized regulations across policy instruments, clear durability testing standards, and a balanced approach to microplastics and hazardous substance regulation to prevent duplicative or impractical requirements.

For Workstream 2, after engaging one-on-one with several ETSA members, we decided not to answer the consultation in the conventional sense but instead submitted written feedback, which is available for download in the ETSA Members Area Our feedback highlights the need for a risk-based approach to regulating substances of concern (SoCs), ensuring that restrictions focus on substances with a demonstrable impact rather than adding unnecessary regulatory burdens on safe and widely used materials.

ETSA highlighted the distinctive sustainability advantages of textile service models in Workstream 3, which dealt with LCAs and economic modeling, such as prolonged product lifecycles, efficient use of resources, and waste reduction. We stressed the need for customized LCA methods that reflect the reduced environmental impact of reusable textiles in comparison to disposables. ETSA also submitted comprehensive feedback on the environmental and economic modeling framework, available for download in the ETSA members area. Our engagement with policymakers will persist as we aim to influence regulations that are just, workable, and effective in promoting the textile services industry while furthering the EU's sustainability objectives.