Overview

• The European Environment Agency reports EU citizens consumed an average of 19 kilograms of textiles per capita in 2022, a record high driven by fast fashion trends.
• Fast fashion's low-cost, high-turnover model, supported by apps like Shein and Zalando, remains a significant driver of consumption across income groups.
• In January 2025, the EU implemented a directive requiring the separate disposal of textiles from general waste to improve recycling rates, addressing the 85% of textile waste not previously recycled.
• The Ecodesign Regulation, effective since July 2024, mandates that only recyclable textile products can enter the EU market to support a circular economy.
• The European Environment Agency emphasizes the urgent need for systemic changes involving policymakers, industry, and consumers to reduce environmental and social impacts of fast fashion.