Better Cotton joins coalition to improve EU's product environmental footprint method for textiles

The Better Cotton Initiative has joined the Make the Label Count (MTLC) coalition to advocate improvements to the European Commission's Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) methodology for fashion and textiles.

The coalition, comprising over 50 organizations, argues that the current PEF framework, designed to standardize sustainability assessments, has significant limitations. Specifically, it fails to fully account for the environmental impacts of synthetic fibers, particularly those stemming from fossil fuel use.

This omission hinders accurate comparisons between natural and synthetic textiles, potentially misleading consumers and undermining the EU's environmental goals. By joining the coalition, Better Cotton aims to ensure that the PEF methodology accurately reflects the environmental realities of textile production and consumption.

This includes a more comprehensive assessment of the entire lifecycle of products, from raw material sourcing to end-of-life management. The coalition emphasizes the need to address these shortcomings to avoid establishing a system that encourages resource overconsumption and hinders the transition to a circular economy.