EU's Consumption of Clothing, Footwear, and Home Textiles from 2010 to 2022
The European Union (EU) is taking a comprehensive approach to address sustainability issues within its textiles value chain. The chain includes a diverse range of countries, such as Cyprus, Portugal, Spain, Malta, Sweden, the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Ireland, France, Slovakia, Czechia, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Greece, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, and more [1].
The EU's primary goal is to reduce waste and promote sustainable practices in the textiles industry. To achieve this, the EU is conducting a detailed analysis of the circularity of its textiles value chain [2]. This analysis covers the entire lifecycle of textiles, from production to disposal, aiming to identify areas where improvements can be made.
The EU is also encouraging the development of innovative textile technologies and promoting the use of eco-friendly materials in textile production [3]. Additionally, the EU is aiming to increase the use of recycled textiles in its value chain, as part of its commitment to a more circular and sustainable textiles industry.
Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU, provides a statistical indicator that sheds light on the average apparent consumption per person of clothing, footwear, and household textiles (excluding carpets and other textiles) in each EU country [4]. This indicator is calculated by estimating the apparent consumption as domestic production plus imports minus exports, and then dividing this total by the population of the country to get the per capita figure.
While Eurostat publishes full tables of apparent consumption per person for each EU country, the exact numeric values per country are not included directly in the search results provided. However, these values can be found in Eurostat’s databases or specific reports, usually updated annually [4]. The reported trend is that consumption of these textile products in the EU has reached record highs recently, indicating growing demand and environmental pressure [4].
In response to these trends, the EU is focusing on improving textile collection and sorting systems, working towards a more circular and sustainable textiles industry [5]. This initiative involves collaboration with various stakeholders, including governments, businesses, and consumers, to achieve these goals.
As consumer spending on clothing and footwear per capita in Europe is forecasted to rise steadily until at least 2029 [6], it is crucial for the EU to continue its efforts towards a more sustainable textiles industry. By promoting circularity, reducing waste, and encouraging the use of eco-friendly materials and recycled textiles, the EU is setting an example for the global textiles industry to follow.
References:
- Eurostat - EU textiles value chain
- Eurostat - Circular economy
- European Commission - Sustainable textiles
- Eurostat - Clothing, footwear, and household textiles
- European Commission - Circular economy action plan
- GlobalData - Consumer spending on clothing and footwear in Europe
- In its pursuit of a circular economy, the EU is considering the environmental implications of lifestyle choices in sectors such as fashion-and-beauty and home-and-garden, aiming to foster sustainable practices across these industries.
- To combat the rising consumption of clothing, footwear, and household textiles in the EU, which as per Eurostat's statistics, has reached record highs, the EU is advocating for improvement in the circularity of these products, with a focus on reducing waste, encouraging recycling, and promoting eco-friendly materials in the production process.
