French Lawmakers Approve Bill Penalizing Fast Fashion – Last Thursday, France’s lower house of parliament passed a bill aiming to impose penalties on ultra-fast fashion products, such as those sold by companies like Shein from China, in efforts to mitigate their environmental consequences.
The proposed legislation entails a progressive rise in fines, reaching up to 10 euros ($11) per piece of clothing by 2030, alongside a prohibition on advertising these products. The bill received unanimous approval from all voting lawmakers and will proceed to the senate for further consideration before potential enactment into law.
The rise of fashion brands like Shein and Temu, leveraging highly adaptable supply chains to meet demand, has caused upheaval in the retail industry, contrasting with established players such as Zara and H&M, who predominantly forecast consumer preferences.
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“This evolution of the apparel sector towards ephemeral fashion, combining increased volumes and low prices, is influencing consumer buying habits by creating buying impulses and a constant need for renewal, which is not without environmental, social and economic consequences,” the bill said.
In a statement to Reuters, Shein asserted that its clothing production aligns with existing demand, resulting in consistently low single-digit rates of unsold garments, contrasting with traditional players who may experience up to 40% waste. It added that the only impact of the bill would be to “worsen the purchasing power of French consumers, at a time when they are already feeling the impact of the cost-of-living crisis.”
Writing on X, France’s environment minister, Christophe Béchu, described the bill as a “major step forward,” adding: “A big step has been taken to reduce the textile sector’s environmental footprint.” The introduction of the bill coincides with the announcement from the French environmental ministry regarding its intention to suggest a European Union prohibition on the exportation of used clothing, aiming to address the escalating issue of textile waste.
Last year, the nation initiated a repair program to incentivize individuals to mend old garments and footwear rather than discarding them. The French government allocated 154 million euros ($168 million) to the initiative, providing reimbursements of up to 25 euros ($27.20) per repaired item.
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Refashion, the non-profit organization entrusted with managing the program, reported that 3.3 billion clothing items, household linens, and footwear entered the French market in 2022. Meanwhile, the country’s Ministry of Ecology revealed that French citizens dispose of 700,000 tons of clothing annually, with two-thirds ending up in landfills.
Fashion, among the world’s most environmentally harmful industries, contributes between 3% and 5% of global carbon emissions, according to McKinsey’s State of Fashion report. Additionally, the report highlighted that roughly half of all fibers produced by the industry consist of oil-based polyester.
