HEJSupport has joined 14 other organisations in signing a joint letter to the European Commission calling for stronger measures to address microplastic pollution from synthetic textiles under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR).
The letter expresses serious concern that the Preliminary Study for apparel published by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) in December 2025 does not propose concrete requirements to reduce microplastic emissions from textiles, despite growing scientific evidence and existing technical solutions.
Globally, more than 210,000 tonnes of microplastics from synthetic textiles are estimated to enter the marine environment every year. Within the European Union, textiles are already recognised as the fourth largest source of microplastic pollution. Synthetic fibres such as polyester, nylon, and polyamide persist in the environment, fragmenting into increasingly smaller particles that contaminate ecosystems and can carry hazardous chemicals linked to adverse impacts on wildlife and human health.
The joint letter stresses that the absence of perfect data should not be used to delay regulatory action. Existing research has already identified key hotspots of microplastic emissions across the textile lifecycle, including fibre manufacturing, weaving, finishing, and washing processes. Studies also demonstrate that design and manufacturing practices can significantly reduce shedding rates.
The signatories therefore urge the European Commission to include concrete policy measures in the ESPR delegated act for apparel and its impact assessment. These include:
- measures to reduce emissions during textile manufacturing, including pre-washing and improved effluent treatment;
- ecodesign requirements including maximum shedding thresholds for apparel products;
- mandatory testing and market assessment methodologies based on existing ISO standards;
- improved transparency requirements through the Digital Product Passport;
- and mandatory and meaningful consumer information regarding the presence of synthetic fibres and microplastic shedding risks.
The organisations also caution against conflating the issue of synthetic microplastics with broader debates about biodegradability of non-synthetic fibres. While further research may be needed regarding natural fibre degradation, this should not postpone urgent action on well-documented plastic pollution from synthetic textiles.
HEJSupport supports a precautionary and lifecycle-based approach to tackling plastic pollution and hazardous chemicals in textiles. Addressing microplastic emissions requires upstream measures, safer product design, stronger transparency and traceability obligations, and reduced dependence on synthetic fossil-based fibres.
The letter was sent to the European Commission on 27 May 2026 and will be made public by the signatories.
