France is planning a law against fast fashion manufacturers. This initiative aims to force fashion giants such as Shein and H&M to fundamentally rethink their sales strategies. Circular economy expert Lisa Tamina Panhuber from Greenpeace analyzes the measure.
France is currently debating a law that would prevent fashion companies from selling cheap clothes. Advertising for so-called fast fashion should be banned in the future and the introduction of fines is being considered.
Reason for the measure: The fashion industry is one of the largest polluters in the world. It produces between 5 and 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. “85 percent of clothing emissions occur during production – the majority comes from dyeing, finishing and spinning the fibers. “But a single law cannot solve the problem. What is needed is a strong package and, ideally, EU-wide common regulations such as the EU Supply Chain Act,” analyzes Lisa Tamina Panhuber, expert on the circular economy of Greenpeace.
Promote alternatives such as second-hand
Because previous voluntary initiatives have not brought any improvements, laws are necessary. “On the one hand, politicians should limit fast fashion – restrictions on advertising, taxes on products that cause a lot of environmental pollution and exploitation,” the expert said. But alternatives such as second-hand, renting and repairing clothing must also be promoted. “These measures can be implemented immediately in Austria.”
On average, we buy more than 60 items of clothing in Austria and Germany every year. However, many things are barely used in the closet: in a 2023 survey, respondents in Austria said that they do not or almost never wear about a quarter of their clothes.
Source: Krone
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