BRUSSELS — Europeans’ soaring appetite for fast fashion — accelerated by the ease of online marketplaces — is putting immense pressure on the environment, according to a report from the EU’s top environmental watchdog.
New data from the European Environment Agency shows that EU citizens are buying more textile products through online shopping than ever before and especially from brands that sell cheaper products in large volumes, otherwise known as fast fashion.
The report comes as EU institutions are finalizing new rules for textile waste management across Europe, which will make fashion brands pay a fee for the processing of their products once they become waste, in an attempt to encourage them to sell more sustainable and longer-lasting items.
In 2022, EU citizens bought about 19 kilograms of new clothes, shoes and other household fabrics each — up from 17 kilograms in 2019 — yet throwing out as much as 16 kilograms of clothes annually.
