Fashion Sustainability Legislation: What Retail Needs to Know for 2024

In the journey towards a more sustainable fashion future, understanding and adhering to evolving sustainability legislation has become vital for fashion companies worldwide. At Pure London x JATC, we're committed to keeping up with the ever-changing regulations to drive meaningful transformation within the industry. Here's a closer look at how sustainability legislation is shaping the fashion sector:

• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Laws: The UK and Europe are implementing EPR laws, which will hold fashion brands financially responsible for the entire lifecycle of their products, including collection, recycling and disposal. This shift towards accountability ensures that brands actively participate in managing the environmental impact of their products.

• Waste Reduction Targets: The UK and European Union are setting ambitious waste reduction targets, aiming to reduce the amount of waste generated by fashion brands and encouraging the adoption of more sustainable practices. These targets push the industry towards circularity, minimising waste and maximising resource efficiency.

• Packaging Regulations: Both regions are introducing regulations to reduce the use of plastic packaging in the fashion industry, aiming to tackle plastic pollution and promote more eco-friendly packaging alternatives. This includes exploring innovative materials and designs to minimise plastic usage throughout the supply chain.

• Textile Waste: The UK government is exploring options to address the issue of textile waste, considering measures such as mandatory garment labeling to encourage recycling and extended producer responsibility schemes. This approach incentivises responsible product design and disposal practices, reducing the environmental footprint of fashion products.

• Environmental Impact Reporting: Fashion brands will be required to report on their environmental impact, including carbon emissions, water usage and waste generation, providing consumers with more transparency about the sustainability of their products. This empowers consumers to make informed choices and encourages brands to improve their environmental performance.

• Consumer Rights: New legislation will enhance consumer rights, giving consumers more information about the products they purchase and their environmental and social impact, empowering them to make more informed choices. This fosters a more responsible consumption culture and encourages demand for sustainable products.

• Supply Chain Transparency: Legislation will also focus on supply chain transparency, requiring fashion brands to disclose information about their supply chain practices, including labour conditions and environmental standards. This promotes ethical sourcing practices and ensures accountability throughout the supply chain.

• Compliance Deadlines: Fashion brands will need to ensure compliance with new legislation by specific deadlines, requiring them to adapt their operations and supply chain practices to meet regulatory requirements. This emphasises the urgency of sustainability efforts and provides clear targets for industry stakeholders to work towards.

At Pure London x JATC, we're dedicated to leading the conversation on sustainable fashion. For more in-depth expert guidance on implementing sustainability into your business, download our Sustainability Toolkit