Pathways to Circular Textiles and Less Microplastic Pollution: Read the Latest ETC/CE Reports! Textiles and plastics represent key value chains in the EU Circular Economy Action Plan. On average, textiles have the fourth highest negative life cycle impact on the environment, after food, housing and mobility. Textile washing is also responsible for the release of microplastics into our seas, land and air. A shift to a circular textile production and consumption system could reduce these negative impacts considerably. Did you know that the average textile consumption per person in Europe in 2020 amounted to over 15 kg, including clothing, home textiles, and shoes? Data from the same year suggests that textile consumption was the area with the third highest impact on water and land use and the fifth in terms of raw material use and greenhouse gas emissions. Research indicates that over 14 million tonnes of microplastics have been accumulated in the world’s ocean floor due to textile washing, causing harm to ecosystems, animals and people. Fast fashion accounts for a particularly high portion of such releases due to synthetic fibre usage but also because such garments wear out quickly. Two recent reports of the European Topic Centre on Circular Economy and Resource Use (ETC/CE), which the CSCP co-authored, bring key knowledge on consumption and behaviour change factors. The reports set the basis for an improved understanding of the environmental and climate change impacts from textiles and from microplastics released from them. Data included in the reports covers the latest estimates of textile production, consumption, and trade in Europe as well as insights on the role of circular business models, including technical, social and business innovation. The reports also identify policy and consumer behaviour enablers and provide recommendations how to realise their full potential and enable effective implementation. The reports “Textiles and the Environment – The role of design in Europe’s circular economy” and “Microplastic pollution from textile consumption in Europe” are available for download in our library. The ETC/CE project is a continuation of a long-term collaboration and partnership of the CSCP with implementing partners and the European Environment Agency (EEA) as a funder. It runs for a period of 5 years (2022-2026) and relies on the expertise of 13 European partners supporting the EEA in fulfilling its mandate to provide independent and reliable information to policy makers and broader audiences. For further questions, please contact Arlind Xhelili. Photo by Mediamodifier on Unsplash.