Clothing, Footwear, and Textile Consumption in the EU Hits Record High, Pushing Environmental Concerns

Recent data from the European Environment Agency (EEA) reveals that Europeans are buying and discarding more clothing, footwear, and other textiles than ever before, putting increasing pressure on the environment and climate. The EEA’s latest briefing, titled “Circularity of the EU Textiles Value Chain in Numbers,” highlights the rising consumption rates and emphasizes the need for changes in how textiles are produced and consumed.

In 2022, the average European Union (EU) citizen purchased 19 kg of clothing, footwear, and household textiles. This marks an increase from 17 kg in 2019, which is roughly the equivalent of filling a large suitcase with textiles per person each year. While the EU has made strides in developing a textiles strategy aimed at reducing environmental impact, this increase in consumption continues to strain natural resources.

The growing consumption of textiles in the EU is contributing significantly to environmental and climate pressures. The EEA points out the high impact of textile production and consumption through raw material use, water and land use, greenhouse gas emissions, and microplastics. The system of fast fashion—characterized by cheap production, online shopping, and the influence of social media—has been a major driver of this surge in textile consumption.

To address these issues, the EEA calls for a systemic shift toward more sustainable, circular textile production. This involves creating higher-quality textiles that are designed to last longer and can be easily reused, repaired, or recycled. The goal is to move away from the fast-fashion trend and adopt more sustainable practices at every stage of the textile lifecycle.

The rise of digital technologies like 3D printing could help reduce waste in textile production by improving efficiency. However, the EEA warns that these technologies also have the potential to increase consumption by enabling cheaper production and lower prices, which may inadvertently lead to greater environmental and climate pressures.

Despite an increase in textile waste collection across the EU—rising by 4.3 percentage points since 2016—overall collection rates remain low. The introduction of EU legislation on separate textile waste collection, set to begin in 2025, is expected to significantly improve textile waste capture rates from households.

However, the briefing also notes that the export of used textiles from the EU is complex. While the aim is for reuse or recycling, much of the exported textiles end up being burned, dumped in nature, or landfilled, particularly in African and Asian countries. This highlights the ongoing challenges in managing textile waste effectively on a global scale.

Among 12 categories of European household consumption—including food, mobility, housing, and healthcare—textile consumption ranks as the fifth largest contributor to environmental and climate pressures. The EEA’s findings underscore the urgent need for action to mitigate the environmental and climate impacts of the textile industry.