The Nordic Council has agreed a new recommendation calling on governments across the region to tighten expectations for the fashion industry, arguing that stronger standards are needed to reduce environmental harm, prevent misleading sustainability claims and improve conditions for workers in textile supply chains.
Origin and purpose
A recommendation, drafted by the Nordic Youth Council and further developed by the Nordic Council Committee for a Sustainable Nordic Region before adoption, calls for clearer consumer information, measures to prevent greenwashing and misleading marketing, and improved working conditions across the textile sector. The action reinforces a push for Nordic textile transparency and for systems that help consumers make informed decisions.
Consumption and waste figures
Reports cited in the recommendation indicate Nordic countries have higher per capita clothing consumption than the global average, while only a small portion of donated garments is reused locally. The European Economic Area recorded that in 2019 some 1.7 million tonnes of textiles were exported from high-income countries to lower-income ones. A study referenced in the recommendation found clothing in the Nordic region is often worn seven to eight times before being discarded and that under 1% is recycled through closed-loop systems.
Stakeholder comment
Nordic Youth Council member Lone Kristiansen said: “Most consumers want to make more sustainable choices, but understanding what goes into products is too difficult. We can’t expect individuals to know everything about the whole production chain. It’s time for a more transparent system to help consumers make better decisions.”
Materials, policy and certification
The recommendation notes synthetic and fossil fuel-based materials dominate global textile production, accounting for 62% of output and contributing to carbon emissions. It also records that in Europe around 600,000 tonnes of textiles are incinerated each year. The EU’s textile strategy within the Waste Framework Directive aims to limit resource use by holding manufacturers accountable for the volume of clothing produced, destroyed and exported. Nordic countries began work in 2024 on a framework for textile producer responsibility, and a new EU directive coming into effect in September will require improved consumer information on product sustainability.
The recommendation highlights established Nordic tools such as the Nordic Swan ecolabel, recognised by 97% of regional residents. The Swan label assesses full product life cycles and applies criteria to textiles including recycling-conscious design, chemical restrictions and limits on plastic or decorative materials. Certification requires measurement of microplastic release, prohibits incineration of unsold items, enforces fibre content standards and mandates compliance with International Labour Organisation conventions. Despite broad public recognition of the Nordic Swan, relatively few regional clothing brands have obtained the certification.
Emphasis
The Nordic Council’s action renews emphasis on using recognised schemes such as the Nordic Swan to strengthen textile sustainability, reduce greenwashing and improve consumer information while advancing producer responsibility.
