In France, the country’s Senate recently approved a revised version of a law regulating fast fashion. If implemented, the law would ban advertising by fast-growing Chinese e-commerce platforms, such as Shein and Temu.
Senators in the upper house of parliament voted almost unanimously for a modified version of a bill passed by France’s lower house last year, which aims to reduce the environmental impact of the textile industry. Critics say the low-priced garments produced by fast-fashion chains drive excessive consumption and waste, worsening the textile sector’s impact on the environment. An amended version of the bill distinguishes between “ultra” fast fashion and “classic” fast fashion. Thus, imposing less harsh restrictions on European fast-fashion players.
The law would also introduce penalties for both fast and ultra fast-fashion companies if they don’t meet certain environmental criteria, reaching at least 10 euros per item of clothing by 2030, or up to 50 percent of the product’s price excluding tax. The government needs to notify the European Commission of the vote, and will then need to establish a joint committee to reach a compromise between the Senate and lower house versions of the law before it is implemented.
