The French Senate, the upper chamber of parliament, has recently endorsed a revised version of legislation governing fast fashion. Originally passed by the lower house last year, the bill seeks to mitigate the environmental effects of the textile industry.
Senators voted nearly unanimously in favor of the modified legislation, which had been reviewed by the Senate’s Committee on Regional Planning and Sustainable Development in March.
According to the French Senate’s website, “The aim of this text is to limit the phenomenon of express fashion and the increase in market volumes, as well as the negative externalities associated with these production and consumption methods.”
To achieve this goal, the proposed legislation aims to enhance consumer awareness and information regarding the environmental impact of fast fashion, as well as promote options for reusing and repairing clothing and accessories. It also seeks to broaden the scope for adjusting eco-contributions based on the clothing’s environmental impact and to prohibit advertising for companies and products affiliated with fast fashion.
If enacted, the law would also ban advertisements from rapidly expanding Chinese e-commerce platforms. The amended bill differentiates between ‘ultra’ fast fashion and ‘classic’ fast fashion.
The Senate has opted to allocate contributions towards recycling facilities within France rather than funding collection and recycling infrastructure in non-EU countries, thereby fostering the growth of national recycling capabilities.
The approach taken is intended to be less punitive and more balanced, establishing a framework for advertising fast fashion. This includes banning influencers from promoting fast fashion items—who currently serve as major conduits for these brands—and mandating concise disclosures about the environmental impact of fast fashion products in advertising.
Following the Senate’s vote, the government must inform the European Commission and then form a joint committee to reconcile the Senate and lower house versions of the law before it can be officially implemented.
