European Cities Tackle Textile Waste Crisis

A report titled 'Cities and consumption: Local solutions to curb textile waste and combat fast fashion' highlights innovative municipal initiatives addressing fast fashion and textile waste. Key strategies include restricting advertisements in cities like Lille and Lyon, offering repair incentives in Austria, and promoting product-as-a-service models such as clothing libraries in Copenhagen. Noteworthy examples include Turku, Finland, which advocates for slow fashion and textile circularity, and Nantes, France, which funds a 'Slow Fashion Training' program. The report underscores the proactive role of cities in mitigating the environmental impact of fast fashion, especially as national governments lag behind. Meanwhile, Japanese retailer Uniqlo celebrates its 40th anniversary with a focus on sustainability and quality, emphasizing that its clothing is designed to last. CEO Tadashi Yanai reflects on the challenges faced during global expansion and the importance of adapting to changing consumer expectations.