Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies are crucial for addressing textile waste as they hold manufacturers responsible for the whole lifecycle of their products, including end-of-life management.
According to a recent analysis by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to the circular economy, fashion and textile waste poses a serious worldwide concern that requires strong Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies and engagement.
It is claimed that EPR policies are crucial resources for acquiring this type of funding. EPR rules require producers to collect, sort, and repurpose their products after consumers have thrown them away.
Design for Environment (DfE) concepts are applied by EPR in producing textiles that are more resilient, reusable, and easily recyclable. Utilising biodegradable materials or single-fibre compositions, for instance, might streamline recycling procedures and lessen their negative effects on the environment.
Under EPR programmes, producers are frequently obliged to return their goods or provide funding for recycling programmes. This encourages increased recycling rates as well as the growth of a circular economy, which lowers the demand for virgin resources by continuously reusing and repurposing things.
By mandating the recycling or proper disposal of textiles, EPR policies significantly reduce the volume of textile waste ending up in landfills. Textiles in landfills can take years to decompose, releasing harmful chemicals and greenhouse gases. EPR helps mitigate these environmental hazards.
Textile EPR implementation is not without difficulties. Strong regulatory frameworks, efficient enforcement, and cooperation between the public sector, business community, and consumers are necessary. The infrastructure for recycling textiles must also be sufficiently advanced to accommodate rising trash collection volumes.
To facilitate the commercialisation of textile-to-textile recycling, the paper suggests that brands and retailers should invest in reverse logistics infrastructure and establish long-term sourcing agreements with recyclers to support this expanding environment.
