Clothing & workshops: Hessen fights against Fast Fashion!

Clothing & workshops: Hessen fights against Fast Fashion!

In the fight against the challenges of Fast Fashion, the focus is on alternative consumption. There are numerous initiatives in Hesse that counteract this trend. Flea markets, second-hand shops and free shops are becoming more and more popular. The Kassel Greenpeace Jugend initiated the first clothing exchange party in 2015 that is now flourishing. The commitment of the Hessian cities during the ongoing fashion revolution action week, which takes place annually in April, is particularly visible to draw attention to responsibility and transparency in the fashion industry. This week is also reminiscent of the tragic collapse of the Rana Plaza textile factory in Bangladesh, in which more than 1,100 people lost their lives.

From 22nd to April 27th, the focus in Darmstadt is at events such as clothing exchange parties, film evenings and workshops. The action week aims to strengthen awareness of the negative effects of textile consumption. According to the EU environmental agency, textile consumption in the EU rose to an average of 19 kilograms per person in 2022 in 2022.

responsibility in textile consumption

The growing demand for second-hand products reflects the rethinking among consumers. In Hesse, half of consumers are already buying second -hand, while six out of ten plan to do this in the future. Trading with used goods even grows faster than retail as a whole. This development shows that more and more people want to rely on conscious consumption.

At the same time, more and more fashion brands are striving for a positive image, even if the amount of non -recyclable textiles is rapidly increasing from synthetic fibers. Forecasts expect a total of 160 million tons of textiles to be produced by 2030. Alarming numbers show that every second is burned or landed by a truck load or lands on landfills instead of being recycled.

European commitment to sustainability

The European legislature also meets the environmental problem. With measures such as the 2018 waste policy and proposals for revising the existing regulations, the EU shows a way to hold manufacturers responsible. A new environmental sign is introduced to make things recognizable that correspond to ecological criteria, and to ensure that materials contain less harmful substances.

In March 2024, suggestions for the introduction of a system of expanded manufacturer responsibility were drawn up. In the future, manufacturers of textiles will have to bear the costs for the separate collection, sorting and recycling of their products. This regulation is intended to strengthen that consumers can make simple decisions for sustainable textiles and that old textiles can be treated more efficiently.