The EU plans to ban the sale of cotton products, as well as its cultivation and processing.

According to plans EUin the future Clothing should become easier to recycle. This may result in popular material – cotton – will be banned.

Ecology and prohibitions

Eco-friendliness is becoming increasingly important in various aspects of life – from driving and shopping to waste disposal. WITH January 1, 2025 Old clothes can no longer be thrown into regular waste. It now needs to be taken to recycling bins, where fabrics such as old jeans or holey sheets will be recycled rather than incinerated.

However, this is just the beginning. The European Union is planning another ban: Popular cotton used to make T-shirts and sweaters could be banned in the future. The reason is concern for the environment.

Cotton is currently one of the most popular materials for clothing. However, in line with EU plans to create a circular economy, 2030 this material can almost disappear from jeans and T-shirts.

TO 2050 The EU requires all materials to come from the circular economy, and to 2030 50% of materials must be recyclable and 25% fully recyclable. The problem with cotton is that its fibers are too small and weak to process, making it difficult to recycle.

Why cotton will soon stop being processed in the EU

There are strict regulations such as the CSDDD and CSRD directives that focus on the production and origin of cotton. Although it is considered soft on the skin, its production requires a lot of resources: one kilogram of cotton requires about 10,000 liters of water and one liter of chemicals. This harms the soil in the regions where it is grown. Because of this, the EU may introduce a ban on cotton in the future, but there are already many promising alternatives.

Alternatives to cotton: what will replace this material

With cotton becoming less of a sustainable choice, scientists and manufacturers are looking for alternatives that are less harmful to the environment. New materials are already appearing on the market that can replace traditional cotton in clothing. Some of them include:

• Linen fabrics: flax is an environmentally friendly plant that requires much less water and chemicals to grow. In addition, flax fibers are easily recycled and can be used to create durable fabrics.
• Recycled fabrics: One of the most promising trends is the use of recycled plastic bottles, old clothes and other synthetic materials to create new fabric. This not only reduces waste, but also reduces the demand for natural resources.
• Cotton with reduced environmental impact: Today, manufacturers are starting to use organic cotton, which is grown without chemical fertilizers and pesticides. This cotton requires less water and does not harm the soil.

What awaits producers and consumers

Changes in EU legislation could have a significant impact on clothing production and consumption. Manufacturers will have to adapt to new demands and find ways to use recyclable and environmentally friendly materials. Consumers, in turn, will need to get used to the new rules for recycling clothing and choose more sustainable and durable products.

In addition, in the future we may see an increase in interest in renting clothes and exchanging items, which will reduce consumption and reduce the burden on the environment.

Future prospects

While the cotton ban and the move to a circular economy may force changes in the fashion industry, experts believe it will open up new opportunities to create sustainable and innovative materials. The key is to continue to find a balance between consumer preferences and the need to protect the planet from excessive resource consumption.

How a ban on cotton growing and processing could affect Greece

Ban on cotton processing Under the new European Union rules could create serious problems for Greece, and there are several reasons for this:

1. Economic losses
   In 2017, Greece produced about 3% of global raw cotton exports. A ban on cotton growing and processing could lead to a loss of export revenue, amounting to approximately 3% of the global cotton market, then valued at US$13.2 billion. This means a potential loss of revenue of around US$400 million for Greece, based on its share of global exports.
2. Employment
   Given that cotton is one of the main agricultural crops in Greece, a ban on its cultivation and processing could lead to job losses. In Greece, cotton farming provides employment to more than 50 thousand people. In the late 1990s, Greece produced more than 1.3 million tons of cotton per year. However, after joining the EU, quotas were introduced limiting production to 782 thousand tons. This led to a reduction in the number of small and medium-sized farms, many of which went bankrupt.
3. Impact on the textile industry
   Greece is one of the major consumers of cotton in its region, and the textile industry uses local cotton to produce fabrics and clothing. A ban on cotton could lead to increased imports of raw materials, which would increase production costs and could reduce the competitiveness of Greek textile products in the international market.
4. Social and environmental impacts
   Although difficult to quantify directly, a ban could lead to changes in agricultural practices, which could have a positive impact on the environment (reduced use of pesticides and water) or a negative impact if alternative crops are not found to grow. It is important to note that growing cotton requires significant resources, especially water, and a ban could reduce pressure on water resources.
5. Subsidies and government support
   Greece receives subsidies from the EU to support cotton production. A cotton ban could lead to a reallocation or withdrawal of these funds, affecting farmers' budgets and regional economies. Greece in 2018 had about 250 000 hectares cotton plantings that have been certified to AGRO-2 standards under the Better Cotton program. For each hectare the subsidy amount is about 40 euros. Thus, the amount of subsidies for cotton growing could reach 1 billion euros.

Source link