Fibershed in partnership with Make the Label Count Coalition
The Advocacy Roundtable on th 6th of February 2025, brought together approximately 15 participants from the European Fibershed network and partners, including IWTO, Fibershed US, and MTLC to discuss critical issues surrounding the TRICK pilot project and the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF).
A central concern arose regarding the current weighting of scores, which emphasizes the fiber production and land use phases significantly more than other sectors, inadvertently favoring natural fibers and potentially promoting fast fashion through synthetic fibers.
Key discussions highlighted the necessity of reassessing the scoring system. Will a score truly influence consumer behavior towards more durable products, advocating instead for recognizing the intrinsic and emotional value of Fibershed products? It is essential for the public to learn and better understand the origins of fibers and to support struggling producers, such as shepherds.
The roundtable explored innovative ideas, including a new Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) that integrates soil data and considers both agriculture and biodiversity as critical components. Can we leverage the UN’s declaration of 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists to raise awareness with EU policymakers about the significance of raw material suppliers.
We should link these discussions to cultural heritage, promoting the reindustrialization of Europe’s textile industry based on its rich history; Let’s advocate for a dual focus on both the “handprint” (positive contributions) and the “footprint” (minimizing harm), pushing for solutions that extend beyond merely reducing negative impacts. While policymakers are dedicated to combating fast fashion, there remains a significant knowledge gap regarding textiles. They should investe time and resources in a “Textiles 101” education to contextualize discussions, especially since the methodologies being applied to textiles and agricultural products do not align.
Action points emerging from the meeting included developing a proposal related to the UN Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, supporting the upcoming wool march to Brussels initiated by shepherds (tentatively set for December 2026), and monitoring the EU Horizon call aimed at reindustrializing textile manufacturing in Europe.
Overall, the meeting underscored the importance of collaborative efforts to enhance the sustainability and value of textile production while fostering greater understanding and support within policymaking circles.
Would you like to learn more about this topic, and receive the full summary of this round table as white paper, please reach out to europeanfibershed.org