Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 January 2025
94. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he is in favour of a law that aims to discourage the production and consumption of polyester-heavy fashion items by significantly increasing their cost, with the revenue generated being used to support initiatives that promote a more environmentally responsible fashion industry. [1319/25]
View answerTackling textile waste is a key priority of the National Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy 2020-2025. A number of EU and national initiatives designed to achieve this are underway, including the following.
The EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles (2022) proposes measures to make producers take responsibility for products throughout the value chain including waste, aiming to make producers who manufacture and sell disposable goods for profit, environmentally accountable for the products they place on the market.
A further element of the Strategy involves a legislative proposal for the introduction of mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for textiles across the EU, with eco-modulation of fees to encourage circular design. Negotiations are continuing under the Polish Presidency and I expect agreement will be reached soon. My department has already begun work on establishing the foundations for an Irish EPR scheme - a workshop with industry and other key stakeholders was held in November 2024 to help design a scheme that is reflective of the waste hierarchy and circular economy principles.
In 2022, I established a Textile Advisory Group with a membership including industry, regulators and charities. The Group has made a series of recommendations and these will help shape our first National Policy Statement on Circular Textiles. A draft Statement will open for public consultation in the coming weeks. Information on the work of the Textile Advisory Group can be found at gov.ie (www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/528f7-circular-economy/#textiles)
