Environmental Policy Regulations

France just made history—by calling out ultra-fast fashion for what it is: A Planetary Liability. On June 10, 2025, the French Senate approved groundbreaking legislation to curb the environmental and social damage of ultra-fast fashion. It’s bold. It’s overdue. And it should ripple far beyond France’s borders. ⚖️ What does it do? - Introduces a €5–€10 (by 2030) eco-tax per item on ultra-fast fashion --> Stop dumping clothes to fast digital cycles - Bans advertising and influencer promotion of these products --> Stop misleading Tiktokers and Insta Influencers - Mandates eco-score labels to expose product impact --> Stop Green washing - Rewards slower, more circular brands with bonus-malus incentives --> Encourage ecodesign But here’s the real shift: "Ultra-fast fashion" is now defined in law as: 1- High-volume 2- Low-durability 3- Lack of reparability Yes, names like #Shein and #Temu come to mind. This is regulatory foresight in action. A clear message: Speed without responsibility is not innovation—it’s erosion. But the real question is: Is ultra-fast fashion the only threat to circularity and justice in the industry? Because while France steps forward, parts of the EU are debating watering down the Green Claims Directive —and delaying broader legislation that could hold all players accountable for repairability, recyclability, and material stewardship. We need more than tactical wins. We need systems thinking. What other bottlenecks should regulation address? And how do we ensure ambition at the EU level matches the urgency we’re seeing from national leadership? 📷 photo credit Emanuele Morelli #CircularEconomy #TextileRegulation #FastFashion #UltraFastFashion #France #EPR #GreenClaimsDirective #EUtextiles #SustainableFashion #EcoDesign #Legislation #Accountability #PolicyForImpact

🌍 EU moves to strengthen recycled plastics regulation for food contact The European Commission has circulated a draft amendment to Regulation (EU) 2022/1616 on recycled plastics intended to come into contact with food. - Electronic Union Register: A new EU-level registration system for recyclers and installations, replacing national submissions. -Expanded documentation requirements: Updated templates for declarations of compliance, including new forms for input materials and finished articles (Annex III A–D). -Traceability and sampling: Recyclers must retain a sample of each input batch for two years to verify contamination levels and decontamination effectiveness. - Customs enforcement: For recycled PET imported from third countries, CN codes must be indicated in compliance documentation. - Clearer compliance statuses: Installations will be categorized (active, suspended, audit pending, decommissioned) to improve transparency. - Transitional measures: Products compliant under current rules may continue to be placed on the market for a limited period after the amendment enters into force.  🗓️ National Authotities as Denmark are collecting feedback until the 9th January 2026 GPSNet - Global Product Safety Net: ⚖️ Reg Advocacy, Legal Opinions, Chemical/Recycling Registrations 💻 Digital Regulatory / AI Early warning 📄 Consulting, GMP Recycling system, Dossier submission, Migration modelling, Global Test management, DOC Management, .. ⚗️ NIAS/PFAS/BP Screening, CMMS, Input-output validation, Test in food , Global Accredited testing ♻️ Sustainability testing, R-Plastic Challenge test, microplastics.. 🕵 GMP Audit/Training 🆘 m.scialpi@globalproductsafety.net Marco Scialpi Sources: https://lnkd.in/eZ3dvq-d

Folks following Food Contact Materials (FCM) updates in the EU should be aware of Regulation (EU) 2025/351. Published today, the highlights include: ✔ Stricter purity standards – Additives and UVCB substances must meet higher purity and traceability requirements. ✔ Lower migration limits – Tighter specific migration limits (SMLs) for chemicals in plastic food contact materials. ✔ Stronger NIAS oversight – Non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) must be risk-assessed if migration exceeds 0.00015 mg/kg food. ✔ Tighter rules for recycled plastics – Enhanced decontamination and traceability to prevent contamination in food-grade recycled materials. ✔ New compliance for by-products – Manufacturing scraps and off-cuts must meet strict Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) before reuse. ✔ More robust documentation – Manufacturers must provide migration test data at every stage of production. 📌 Deadline for full compliance: 16 September 2026 #Plastics #FoodSafety #EURegulations #Manufacturing #Packaging #Sustainability #Recycling #FoodContactMaterials #Compliance #ChemicalSafety #CircularEconomy #RegulatoryUpdates #SupplyChain #QualityControl #PolicyChanges

The Draft Plastic Waste Management (Second Amendment) Rules, 2025 is set to bring several pivotal changes to India’s EPR framework aimed at refining compliance pathways and bridging operational gaps. Notably, entities such as producers and importers can now carry forward shortfalls in meeting the recycled content obligations for 2025–26 over the next three years, easing transitional pressures. However, importers are disallowed from counting recycled content in imported goods toward their targets, compelling them to procure surplus certificates from domestic players. The terminology also sees a shift, with “brand owners” more uniformly replaced under the umbrella of “producers’ responsibility,” reflecting a collective compliance outlook. Further, the FSSAI’s recent guidelines (May 2025) on recycled PET (rPET) as Food Contact Material (FCM) have intensified regulatory expectations. A minimum 30% recycled content mandate is already in effect, but due to delayed finalization of these rules, many brands and manufacturers were caught off guard—scrambling for approvals amid constrained compliant supply. Only a handful of entities secured pre-approvals, sparking significant compliance anxiety across the industry. A critical discussion now revolves around the lack of clear FSSAI guidelines for use of recycled content in flexible food-contact packaging. While some brands have cautiously adopted recycled materials in secondary applications like shrink wraps, pet food bags, and personal care sachets, the broader scope for food-contact flexible packaging remains an untapped and uncertain space. This regulatory vacuum represents both a massive opportunity and a looming compliance challenge. With 2nd GCPRS - Global Conclave on Plastics Recycling and Sustainability 2025 in Delhi next week and the ElitePlus Business Services- Injection, Blow Moulding & PET Conference currently underway in Mumbai, it’s imperative that these platforms go beyond capacity boasts and pain-point echo chambers. The sector urgently needs conclusive dialogue on FCM-recycled content, flexible packaging, and the viability of cross-compliance tools. The time for shaping regulatory alignment is now—before fragmented interpretations derail India’s circular packaging future. #rpet #epr #recycledcontent #gcprs #eliteplus #brands #recycling #rigids #flexiblepackaging #lowvalueplastics #fcmrpet #foodgrade #fmcg #pwp #cpcb #moefcc #urep

The EU’s new agreement on textile waste is a major step forward. While Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for textiles is new for many — France has had an EPR scheme in place since 2008! Now, with a unified approach across Europe, the industry is facing a long-overdue shift. The deal requires all textile producers—including ecommerce brands selling into the EU—to cover the costs of collecting, sorting, and recycling their products. And while some see this as a challenge, it’s just accountability catching up with reality. Fashion’s waste problem is massive—12.6 million tonnes annually in the EU alone—and brands need to be part of the solution. There’s also an important detail in the agreement: ultra-fast fashion business models will be taken into account when determining financial contributions under EPR. This could be a significant lever to change the economics of disposable fashion. For those in the industry, this raises a big question: Are we ready for a world where supply and demand for recycled materials no longer match up? With regulation ramping up, brands committing to circularity will soon find themselves competing for limited access to recycled fibers. Brands will have to choose if they will secure supply and be the heroes or fail to do so and pay penalties while being the villains of this transition? I encourage all to read more on the gap in the latest BCG and Fashion for Good collaboration. https://lnkd.in/e3M6PNdS This is where long-term planning matters. Investing in next-gen recycling, securing offtake agreements (to ensure your supply), and working closely with material innovators will be key to staying ahead. Big move for Europe, but also a moment for brands everywhere to rethink their role in the system. https://lnkd.in/e38hy33F

Every second, the equivalent of a dump truck full of clothes is sent to a landfill. Could California’s bold new law help end this cycle of waste? The Responsible Textile Recovery Act (SB 707) is the first of its kind in the U.S., requiring textile and apparel companies to take responsibility for their products after consumers are done with them. This means less waste, more repair options, and the potential for a thriving circular economy. 🟢 Globally, 85% of clothing ends up in landfills or incinerators, despite efforts to recycle. 🟢 California alone disposes of 1.2 million tons of textiles annually—clothing, linens, and more. 🟢 The fast fashion industry accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions, making it a bigger polluter than aviation and shipping combined. Under the law, companies must: 🔵 Set up free drop-off and mail-back programs for consumers. 🔵 Join producer responsibility organizations (PROs) to fund and manage repair and recycling networks. 🔵 Innovate with recyclable and sustainable materials to meet new standards. This initiative shifts the financial burden of textile waste management from taxpayers (who spent $70M on disposal in California in 2021) to the companies producing the waste. It’s also a win for resale, repair, and upcycling industries. With compliance expected by 2030, California is setting the stage for a global shift in how we approach fashion. Could this legislation be the catalyst for a truly circular fashion economy? What do you think—will this help rethink fast fashion? 🌍

Forcing Recycled Fibre in Fashion: Smart Move or Economic Disaster? 🏭♻️ Fashion is one of the world’s biggest polluters, yet there’s no requirement for brands to use recycled fibre materials. Meanwhile, the UK Plastic Packaging Tax forces manufacturers to include 30% recycled content in packaging. So why isn’t clothing held to the same standard? 👕♻️ Imagine a policy that gradually increases the required recycled fibre content in clothing—starting at 5% and scaling up to 40% over 5–10 years. A small change with a potential massive impact: less reliance on virgin polyester, more investment in textile recycling, and a shift toward a circular economy. Sounds great in theory—but would it actually work? 👇 🛑 The Problem 100 million tonnes of textiles are produced each year. Over 70% of clothing is made from fossil-fuel-based synthetics (polyester, nylon, etc.). Less than 1% of textiles are recycled back into new clothes. Most textile waste ends up in landfill or incineration. Will the industry change fast enough without regulation? ✅ The Benefits Stronger demand for textile recycling—creating incentives to scale up solutions. More investment in mechanical and chemical recycling technologies. Less reliance on virgin polyester made from oil. Progress toward circular economy goals—turning old clothes into new ones. 🚨 The Challenges Higher costs – Recycled fibre is often more expensive than virgin materials. Textile-to-textile recycling isn’t widespread – Most recycled polyester comes from bottles, not clothing. Material performance concerns – Many brands worry that recycled fibres aren’t as strong, soft, or durable as virgin alternatives. Greenwashing risks – Some companies might claim compliance without real impact. 💡 Would It Work? The Plastic Packaging Tax has already proven that regulation drives change: Companies adapted by increasing their use of recycled plastic to avoid extra taxes. The price gap between virgin and recycled plastic has shrunk due to demand. So why isn’t the same approach applied to fashion? A phased rollout—starting small and increasing over time—would give brands and recyclers time to scale up without major disruption. 💬 What Do You Think? Should governments mandate recycled fibre content in clothing? What would be the biggest barrier to making this work? If not regulation, what’s the best way to drive textile recycling? Drop your thoughts in the comments. Let’s talk. 👇♻️ #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #Fashion #TextileRecycling

Chances are high that when your company started exploring the applicability of EU PPWR requirements to your EU-sold packaging and performed a gap assessment, you realized that there are quite a few grey areas. Indeed, many elements including methodology, definitions, and approaches will arrive later through secondary legislation. And your top management might say, “That’s ok, let’s put this on hold for a while until we get those clarifications. We have thousands of other business priorities to tackle, and our resources are limited.” And they have a reason to say so. But here’s the thing: PPWR represents a business risk. Companies risk not being able to place non-compliant packaging on the market. ➡️ What to do? Keep moving forward despite uncertainty. But take a smart approach. When I help my clients, I apply a risk anticipation approach: 1️⃣ First, give visibility to the grey areas that impact your decision making and search for other reliable instruments to help you get more clarity, another view, or a complementary opinion on the subject.. For example, borderline recyclability when it’s difficult to conclude whether it’s a grade C or E as per 2030 requirements, where grade E means the packaging is not considered recyclable. In this case consult a recycling organization in the target market or apply RecyClass methodology if plastic packaging is concerned. 2️⃣ Understand your worst-case scenario. For example, it seems your case is exempt from banned plastic formats, but it’s not explicitly mentioned, so there a good chance that it might be still banned. In this case map your alternatives and their implications for your business. For example, you can swap to paper, but then you need a new packing line. That’s a dramatic change for the business indeed, so it’s better to factor in such an impact much in advance, even if it’s not yet confirmed, and plan how to overcome it. 3️⃣ Build your plan and scenarios, i.e., how and when you need to act to anticipate potential risks or be ready to pivot when the situation changes. Let’s say your plastic packaging format will be banned. What are other options that are not banned? What does it take to implement alternatives? When do you need to trigger them? Should you consider packing outsourcing to avoid in-house investment pressure and risk? ➡️ So here is my key message: Even if certain details of PPWR will be clarified later, the overall direction is clear and unavoidable. Waiting acting on PPWR creates a high risk of costly last-minute fixes, potential penalties, and supply disruptions. Evaluating your risks and scenarios as early as possible lets you: - spread risk, effort and investments over time, - avoid rushed and suboptimal decisions, - avoid potentially overpriced solutions when industry demand peaks, and - ensures you’re financially and operationally prepared. Got those tricky grey areas? Let’s discuss your risk anticipation strategy for PPWR readiness?

Case Study for #SustainabilityStrategy interviews (Based on one of my mentee's interview experience) #SustainablePackaging Strategy for a Global Beverage Company As a sustainable packaging consultant, I would develop a comprehensive and actionable roadmap to help a global beverage company transition to fully sustainable packaging across bottles, cans, and other materials. This strategy would align with #CircularEconomy principles, #ESG regulations, and industry best practices, ensuring sustainability without compromising product integrity, cost-efficiency, or consumer experience. 🔹 Step 1: Define Sustainability Goals & Compliance Strategy 1. Set Clear Targets 100% recyclable, reusable, or compostable packaging by [Target Year]. At least 50% recycled content in all plastic and aluminum packaging. Achieve net-zero carbon emissions in packaging by [Target Year]. Phase out single-use plastics in secondary/tertiary packaging. Increase refillable packaging share in key markets. 2. Regulatory & Compliance Alignment with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), EU PPWR, U.S. Plastics Pact etc. Adapt to #CSRD, #SEC Disclosures, and other national plastic laws. Collaborate with industry bodies. 🔹 Step 2: Sustainable Packaging Design & Material Optimization 1. Reduce & Optimize Packaging Lightweight materials for bottles and cans to reduce raw material usage. Right-sizing packaging to avoid excess material in secondary/tertiary packaging. 2. Material Innovation Transition from virgin plastic to rPET (recycled PET) bottles. Move toward bio-based plastics where feasible. Increase aluminum can recycling rates. 3. Shift to Refillable & Returnable Models 🔹 Step 3: Sustainable Supply Chain & Circularity 1. Responsible Sourcing of Materials Source FSC-certified paperboard for secondary packaging. Ensure ethical sourcing of bio-based materials. 2. Circular Economy Partnerships Partner with recyclers, waste management firms, and innovators for closed-loop packaging. Work with retailers and municipalities to enhance collection infrastructure. 3. Optimize Logistics & Distribution Reduce carbon footprint in packaging transport via lightweighting and redesign. Shift to electric vehicles for distribution. Optimize packaging stacking & palletization for efficiency. 🔹 Step 4: Consumer Engagement & Market Adoption 1. Introduce QR codes on packaging for recycling instructions. Use clear recyclability labeling. 2. Incentivizing Consumer Participation Expand return & refill incentives in key markets. Run sustainability awareness campaigns. 3. Implement track-and-trace technologies for closed-loop recycling. Explore IoT-enabled smart packaging. 🔹 Step 5: Performance Tracking & ESG Reporting 1. Key Metrics & Reporting Track packaging recyclability, recycled content, carbon footprint, and waste diversion rates. 2. Continuous Innovation & Industry Collaboration Invest in R&D for new packaging materials. -End-

🌱 India Steps Up Plastic Waste Management in 2025 The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has released a draft amendment to the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 — a significant move toward a more circular and sustainable plastic economy. 🔍 Key Highlights of the Proposed Amendments: 🔁 Mandatory Recycled Plastic Usage Producers, importers, and brand owners must incorporate a minimum percentage of recycled plastic in their packaging — with progressive targets from 2025 to 2029. ♻️ Reuse Targets for Rigid Plastic Packaging Rigid plastic formats (e.g., bottles, containers) must be reused in a phased manner. For drinking water packaging, reuse targets rise to 85% by 2029. 📦 Food Packaging Flexibility Shortfalls in meeting recycled content requirements for food-contact materials in 2025 can be offset across the next three years. 💡 Credit System & Exemptions Entities with legal or technical barriers may apply for CPCB-approved exemptions. A digital credit trading platform will support compliance through market-based mechanisms. 🗣️ Public feedback is invited for the next 60 days. This is a vital opportunity to shape technically sound, scalable, and enforceable plastic waste management policies. 🔗 Let’s work together for a cleaner, greener future. #Sustainability #PlasticWasteManagement #CircularEconomy #ClimateAction #ESG #India #Recycling #EnvironmentalPolicy