21. Production and Consumption Trends in the European Textile Sector and Main Sustainability Challenges

The textile industry is ranked among the top four sectors that use raw materials and water the most, producing a wide variety of items, from apparel to household and technical textiles. In 2015, clothing production, which is responsible for most of the environmental impacts of the textile industry, doubled, with over 100 billion units sold globally. Recent research has estimated that the life cycle of garments does not last even a year due to a linear economic model exasperated by the phenomenon of fast fashion, which involves the launch of collections lasting a few weeks and characterized by very low prices and quality. The European Union will strengthen the competitiveness, sustainability, and resilience of this sector, promoting circular economy actions and more sustainable production processes. Furthermore, Member States will have to guarantee the separate collection of textile waste by 2025. This article aims to trace the current production and consumption trends of the textile sector in Europe and discuss the main challenges to improving its sustainability and circularity. The main results highlight the relevant role of man-made fibres, yarns, and fabrics compared to natural ones. Common European recommendations should be much more incisive to tackle the open loop that characterizes the textile supply chain.