30 MEPs urge EU to combat fashion greenwashing

BRUSSELS – 30 MEPs have called on the European Commission to make improvements to the proposed PEF (Product Environmental Footprint) legislation for fashion. One of the signatories, Hilde Vautmans MEP, said changes to PEF were necessarily to help combat fashion greenwashing and better inform consumers on clothing’s environmental impact

In a letter to the EU Executive, the MEPs claimed that if the Product Environment Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR) are not adjusted to include renewability, biodegradability and microplastic pollution, this could, “fundamentally undermine the credibility of any EU action and the ability of consumers to act responsibly.” The MEPs are concerned that at present, natural fibres such as cotton and wool are being penalised vis-à-vis their synthetic and man-made counterparts such as polyester in the PEF methodology.