The EU strategy aims to create a greener, more competitive (fashion) industry by changing the rules for production and consumption of textiles. It will introduce new design requirements, greenwashing regulation, rules to prevent overproduction and overconsumption and several other new initiatives that will definitely impact your business as a fashion company.

Sofie Bouteligier (OVAM) talks about the general framework and the implementation of the textile strategy, including the initiatives concerning due diligence and Extended Producer Responsability (EPR).

Bérénice Huet (FOD Volksgezondheid/SPF Santé Publique) explains the strategy with regard to the new ecodesign requirements.

Davy Liebens (FOD/SPF Economie) talks about the (new) regulation of greenwashing. Davy works as an inspector-auditor for the Belgian Economic Inspectorate, within the Internet Surveillance Unit. His duties mainly consist of monitoring and enforcing the provisions of the Economic Law Code relating to consumer rights on the Internet. Among other things, he analyses merchants' websites to verify that they are not guilty of unfair commercial practices. Since 2021, this includes a focus on the unfair commercial practices that constitute greenwashing. Many Belgian fashion companies have been audited recently. Davy talks about the expected new European regulations on greenwashing, but we also asked him to tell us more about these audits.

In the extensive Q&A, quite a few questions were raised. We cover topics like the concrete deadlines and the use of sustainability labels in your communication.