RREUSE has been closely following the development of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Product Regulation, and we welcome the outcome of today’s vote in the European Parliament. Regrettably, the EP did not take the opportunity to include the social dimension of sustainability in the regulation, but on many other aspects the text is a major step forward in making access to sustainable products the norm across the EU.
RREUSE joined forces with many other organisations to release a Call to Action for the Just Transition. The organisations call on European Ministers for Environment and Energy, as well as other EU and national level decisionmakers, to complement the implementation of urgently needed, ambitious environmental and climate policies with robust social policies that protect marginalised people primarily and the regions suffering disproportionately from the transition, whilst guaranteeing access to high-quality essential services for all. They call on them to show bold and forward-thinking political leadership by prioritising the promotion of climate action and social justice as one coherent and mutually reinforcing agenda.
The current cost-of-living crisis has had a significant impact on households across all Europe. With rising inflation, the cost of basic goods and services is increasing at a rate that outpaces wages, leaving households struggling to make ends meet. According to a European Parliament Eurobarometer survey, 93% of Europeans are worried about the rising cost of living1. Higher prices contribute to general uncertainty. As a matter of fact, the threat of poverty and social exclusion has now become the second most pressing concern for 82% of Europeans, according to the same survey.
RREUSE network recently gathered in Berlin for the “Stitching together a Social and Circular future for Textiles” conference that brought together leading experts, social entrepreneurs, policymakers, and social enterprise leaders. Together, we imagined a world where fashion is not just a means of self-expression but a force for positive change.
RREUSE welcomes the proposed text of the revision of the Waste Framework Directive as a major milestone in recognising the pivotal role of social enterprises active in re-use. The text published by the European Commission on 5 July rightfully acknowledges these social enterprises as historical and key actors for the circular transition of the textile sector.