As France24 reports, the decision was made after years of debate on how to bring this measure into compliance with European Union law, although doubts about its legality remain.
Specifically, the document calls for the introduction of an hourly fee for mass-produced textiles—a fee that will increase over time—as well as a ban on influencers advertising “fast fashion” brands on social media.
Paris has decided to combat this type of fashion—predominantly from Chinese platforms—on the grounds that the goods in question are easy to order and replace, which contributes to industrial environmental pollution, while textile production accounts for nearly 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
In Europe, the fight against “fast fashion”—which, according to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, “accelerates the environmental catastrophe”—has been a topic of discussion for several years. For example, officials in Brussels have advocated for the textile industry to pay for the recycling of discarded clothing and shoes.
The French administration under President Emmanuel Macron has recently begun to actively demonstrate its commitment to the environment through regulatory measures. It was reported yesterday that the head of state has instructed officials to identify additional ways to levy taxes so that the European Union can collect more revenue, including from American tech giants and foreign companies whose activities pollute the environment, rather than relying on increased contributions from national governments.
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