Just Fashion

Joint Workshop: Navigating the EU Circular Economy legislation’s Impact on India’s Textile and Clothing Sector

20th January 2026
10:00 – 12:00 AM (GMT)
Via Teams

Organised by The Centre for Sustainable Design® at the University for the Creative Arts UCA in association with EU-India Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy Initiative (EU-I RECEI)

Introduction

The EU ambitious “Green Deal” is reshaping global trade, with the Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP), launched in March 2020, at its core. It is a comprehensive strategy featuring initiatives aimed at making sustainable products mainstream. A key part of this is Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) which is a framework directive that highlights many new areas of policy and future regulations. The first two sectors to be targeted under product regulations under ESPR are clothing (final product) and iron and steel (intermediary product); this new legislation will impact Indian textile and fashion suppliers exporting to the EU. For example, suppliers are likely to need to adapt their production to meet key ecodesign requirements that may include desigining for durability, repairability and recyclability and providing extensive data for a new Digital Product Passport (DPP). This practical webinar will break down the complexities of the ESPR product regulations for clothing, DPP and other key EU laws impacting the textile and clothing sector, offering clear insights and actionable steps to help SMEs supplying to EU adapt to the change. It will also give an overview of the relevant EU and international standards related to the fashion and clothing industry and the circular economy.

This introductory webinar is organised by The Centre for Sustainable Design® at UCA in collaboration with EU-India Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy Initiative (EU-I RECEI) as part of the EU Just Fashion project. Just Fashion aims at accelerating climate transition in the fashion industry, by providing businesses in the partner countries with a reference framework and tools to shift their production methods, internal procedures and final products towards more sustainable models that are low carbon, circular and socially inclusive.

The webinar will be led by Professor Martin Charter and Dr Virginie Litaudon from The Centre for Sustainable Design® at UCA in collaboration with Dr. Reva Prakash and J.M. Vivek at the EU-India Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy Initiative (EU-I RECEI).

Objectives

The webinar will discuss:

• ESPR and its impact: Overview of the key elements of the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan, specifically the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), and its direct implications for the Indian textile and clothing industry.
• Other EU policies: Understand new obligations under the amendment to the Waste Framework Directive (WFD), Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and more.
• Key requirements for suppliers: Break down complex concepts like the Digital Product Passport (DPP), Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and other relevant directives to help suppliers, particularly SMEs, understand the new technical and data requirements they will face.
• Indian industry: Discussion on the current state of the Indian textile sector, highlighting existing challenges and opportunities for manufacturers and exporters in adapting to the new EU regulatory landscape.
• Business insights and actionable steps for compliance: Practical recommendations and best practices through a panel discussion, empowering Indian SMEs to develop effective strategies for compliance.

Audience

This practical webinar is designed for Indian SMEs in the textile, clothing, and fashion sectors that are currently supplying to, or aspiring to supply, the EU market. It is particularly relevant for SME owners, export managers, compliance officers, and production managers who are responsible for implementing new technical and data requirements. Representatives from Indian textile trade associations who support SMEs are also encouraged to attend.

Agenda

10:00 – 10:05 Welcome & Introduction

10:05 – 11:05 EU regulations and standards in the textile and clothing industry and their impact on the Indian supply chain

• Context and Background
  • Overview of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) will include:
    • Ecodesign Requirements
    • Digital Product Passport (DPP)
    • Ban on the destruction of unsold consumer goods
    • Green Public Procurement (GPP)
    • Sustance of Concern (SoC)
    • Implementation timeline and next steps
  • Brief overview of other key EU policies:
    • Textile Labelling Regulation (TLR)
    • Waste Framework Directive (WFD) including Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and national EPR schemes with a focus on France and the Netherlands
    • Waste Shipment Regulation (WSR)
    • Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)
    • Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD)
    • Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive
    • Green Claims Directive
• Discussion and clarity on how upcoming EU policies will impact suppliers, particularly in countries like India, including the specific challenges and implications they may face.
• Overview of relevant standards: Introduction to relevant international and European standards (ISO and CEN) related to the fashion and clothing industry and circular economy.
• Actionable steps for SMEs to support existing and future compliance.

11:05 – 11:45 Industry Insights:

• Industry Insights from Europe (10 minutes): 
  • Business insights from H&M
• Industry Insights from India (30 minutes):
  • Textile association – Panipat– and Indian brands, manufacturers
  • Insights into the current position of the Indian textile industry.
    • Challenges and opportunities for textile manufacturers and exporters to EU – Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail/ The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI)- Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy Industry Coalition
    • Examples and best practices already implemented.
  • Overview of the EU Toolkit prepared under EU-I RECEI project.

11:45 – 12:00 Q&A

Registration

The event is free of charge, but you need to register via rcarruthers@uca.ac.uk by sending your name, job title, and organisation. On receipt, you will be sent instructions to join the webinar.

Further information

For more information contact:
Ros Carruthers
The Centre for Sustainable Design ®
Business School for the Creative Industries
UCA
+44 (0) 1252 892772

Funding