Would “Made in Europe” make us more money? It might favour SMEs who have decided to keep production in the EU. Obligatory textile labelling could also promote ethical shopping as consumers could spend to promote fairer wages and working conditions.

Clearer Labels, Ethical Shopping?

What are these clothes made of?   Where do they come from?

Consumers can’t get answers   to all these questions.

After a plenary session vote,   a majority of MEPs want things clarified.

They’re proposing obligatory and detailed   information on textiles sold in Europe.

We adopted an amendment so that   it is possible to introduce symbols

instead of textile names like   polyester or polyamide or elastide,

which are difficult words to understand.

If we add symbols the consumer   will immediately know

that it is an artificial   or synthetic product.

Another issue at stake is specifying   where textiles are produced.

This would help us to know   where clothes come from,

an important detail when deciding to buy.

I also support social labelling for textile   products to help consumers choose

products based on ethical criteria like   health, safety, workers’ rights,

Another expected benefit of this law is   that stating the country of origin

With this new rule we aim to protect   small and medium enterprises

that have decided to keep   their production in the EU.

Currently, each country decides on   a voluntary basis to provide information

on where textiles come from   and what they’re made of.

If all the countries accept the law,   this data will become obligatory,