Promoting the sustainability of small and medium textile and fashion manufacturers

ended

The amount of clothes bought in the EU per person has increased by 40 % in just a few decades, driven by a fall in prices and the increased speed with which fashion is delivered to consumers. Clothing accounts for between 2 % and 10 % of the environmental impact of EU consumption. The contribution to this environmental impact of EU SMEs is an important factor for the environment degradation in Europe. According to Euratex, in 2017 the textile and clothing industry in the EU had a turnover of €181 billion and comprised 176 400 companies (mainly SMEs), employing over 1.7 million people. At the same time, the EU textile and clothing sector exported €48 billion worth of products in 2017, making the EU the second largest exporter in the world. The environmental impact of this activity is enormous for the European water, soil and landscape. In detail, the 2017 Pulse of the Fashion Industry report, put together by GFA and the Boston Consulting Group, estimated that in 2015, the global textiles and clothing industry was responsible for the consumption of 79 billion cubic meters of water, 1 715 million tons of CO2 emissions and 92 million tons of waste. It also estimated that by 2030, under a business-as-usual scenario, these numbers would increase by at least 50 %. However, there are ways in which SMEs in the EU can become more sustainable. The aim of this project is to explore and apply the most suitable actions for EU SMEs in the fashion industry and develop the resources, action plans, tools and synergies for their large-scale adoption. The project promotes SDGs 8, 12, 13, 14, 17 and is in line and relevant with the call and its objectives and connects with objective 2 and objective 3, through the development of the necessary guidance and resources for SMEs in fashion and textile manufacturing to improve their environmental performance and adopt sustainable and socially responsible business models.