France is taking steps to combat the environmental impact of fast fashion. The European Commission has approved a French proposal to display the environmental cost of clothing. This initiative aims to counter the aggressive competition from companies like Shein, Temu, and Primark.
The voluntary labeling system is expected to launch in France this summer. Agnès Pannier-Runacher, Minister for Energy Transition, stated this measure is an effective tool. It will reduce the disastrous environmental, economic, and social impact of ultra-fast fashion.
The environmental display seeks to protect French jobs. It also anticipates a bill regulating fast fashion, to be examined in the Senate starting June 2. The implementation awaits validation by the Council of State and will take effect around the summer break.
The non-mandatory nature of the labeling is to avoid fragmenting the European market. The eco-score, initially planned for 2024, faced delays due to concerns from textile professionals. The calculation method relies on the EU's Environmental Footprint Methods, encompassing 16 criteria, including greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, and toxicity.