Use

Home

Last updated: 10 Jun 2025

Sustainable Practices in Garment Use and Care

Introduction

The lifecycle impact of clothing extends far beyond the manufacturing process, involving significant environmental considerations during the usage phase. This part of the garment's life involves how consumers wear, care for, and eventually repurpose or dispose of their clothing. Addressing these stages through the lens of sustainability can greatly reduce the overall environmental footprint of fashion. Implementing strategies such as enabling upgradability, promoting proper aftercare, reducing resource usage in maintenance, and supporting the second-hand clothing market are essential for cultivating a more sustainable fashion industry.

Enabling Upgradability

Fashion garments designed with upgradability in mind can drastically extend their life and relevance, thus reducing waste. Upgradability involves creating clothes that can be easily altered, repaired, or updated with new features, allowing them to evolve in style, functionality, or fit. This can be achieved by using modular designs or attachments that can be replaced or updated as trends change. The concept of upgradability not only promotes sustainability but also caters to the growing consumer demand for personalised and long-lasting clothing options.

Brands can play a pivotal role by engaging consumers on how to upgrade their garments. Workshops, online tutorials, and in-store services that teach modification techniques empower consumers to personalise and refresh their wardrobes without discarding old items. This not only enhances the value of garments but also strengthens the emotional connection between the consumer and their clothing, which is key to extending garment lifespans.

Aftercare of Garments

Effective garment aftercare is vital for sustainability. Consumers should be instructed to wash clothes only when necessary, and educated on selecting the correct wash cycles that are sufficient for cleaning yet less taxing on the fabric and less energy-intensive. This often means opting for lower temperatures, shorter washes and air-drying rather than tumble drying. Additionally, using eco-friendly laundry detergents and following the manufacturer's care instructions can help reduce the release of microfibers and enhance the garment's durability.

Retailers and brands should provide clear, garment-specific care instructions that emphasise eco-friendly practices, such as spot cleaning and air-drying, which can significantly reduce a garment's environmental impact over its lifetime.

Promoting the use of eco-friendly laundry detergents and conditioners can further reduce the environmental impact associated with garment care. These products are designed to be effective at lower temperatures and are biodegradable, minimising water pollution. Retailers can collaborate with sustainable product brands to offer these products directly to consumers, reinforcing the message of comprehensive garment care.

Reducing Water and Energy Usage

Educating consumers about the importance of energy-efficient washing practices plays a critical role in sustainable fashion. Using full loads, eco-friendly settings on modern appliances, and cold water can all significantly decrease the energy and water used in garment care. Additionally, brands can develop garments that are optimised for these practices, such as quick-dry fabrics that require less energy for drying.

To reduce the water and energy used in garment care, consumers can adopt practices such as washing full loads instead of partial ones and choosing eco-friendly appliances that are designed to conserve resources. Air-drying clothes instead of using a dryer can significantly cut down energy consumption.

Brands can support these initiatives by developing garments that are optimised for low-energy wash and quick air dry, and by providing clear, accessible care instructions that emphasise these methods. Collaboration between fashion retailers and appliance manufacturers can help promote the adoption of energy and water-efficient washers and dryers. Special discounts, bundled offers, or endorsements of specific models can incentivise consumers to upgrade to more efficient appliances, thus supporting sustainable garment care at the consumer level.

Re-use and Secondhand Clothing

The market for second-hand clothing has seen significant growth, driven by both economic and environmental considerations. The second-hand clothing market not only provides a platform for the reuse of garments but also actively reduces waste and the demand for new clothing production.

Retailers and brands can facilitate this trend by establishing buy-back or trade-in programs, setting up dedicated spaces for pre-owned garments, and using online platforms to connect buyers with sellers. Encouraging the normalisation and appeal of second-hand clothing not only helps reduce waste but also makes fashion more accessible and diverse.

To further support the second-hand market, fashion retailers can host swap events, establish garment collection drives, and partner with second-hand shops to provide consumers with convenient options for exchanging or purchasing pre-loved clothing. These initiatives help normalise and encourage the consumption of second-hand garments, reducing the stigma sometimes associated with used clothing.

Clothes Rental and Leasing Models

Clothes rental and leasing models are approaches that cater to contemporary consumers who value variety, affordability, and sustainability. These models allow individuals to rent or lease high-quality, fashionable garments for a specified period instead of purchasing them outright. This system is particularly beneficial for occasional wear, such as formal outfits or designer dresses, reducing the need for one-time-use purchases. By renting clothes, consumers can enjoy a diverse wardrobe that is both cost-effective and less burdensome on the environment. Retailers offering rental services help reduce the overall production of garments, subsequently decreasing waste and the demand for new raw materials. Such models are gaining traction among environmentally conscious consumers and those looking to economise while staying fashionable.

Clothes Sharing

Clothes sharing represents a communal approach to fashion, where individuals swap garments instead of buying new ones. This practice fosters a sense of community and collaboration among participants while promoting sustainable consumption. Clothes sharing can occur informally among friends or family or through organised events and online platforms that facilitate exchanges on a larger scale. This model not only extends the lifecycle of garments but also provides participants with the opportunity to refresh their wardrobes without additional costs and environmental impact. For consumers, clothes sharing is a practical response to the fast fashion dilemma, offering a way to enjoy new styles and trends without contributing to the overproduction and excessive waste typical of the fashion industry.

Conclusion

The fashion industry can significantly impact environmental sustainability through the way garments are designed, cared for, and recycled. By focusing on upgradability, proper garment aftercare, and promoting second-hand clothing, both consumers and manufacturers can contribute to a more sustainable future. These practices not only extend the life of garments but also decrease the demand for new resources and reduce the overall environmental footprint of the fashion industry.

Clothing, fashion and textiles: policies and standards

EU Circular Economy Action Plan 1 & 2: The EU Circular Economy Action Plan 1 (CEAP 1), launched in 2015, set the foundation for transforming the European economy from a linear to a circular model. The plan introduced 54 targeted actions, including legislative proposals to revise the Waste Framework Directive, Landfill Directive, and Packaging Waste Directive. It focused on improving product design to facilitate repair and recycling, enhancing waste management systems, and developing a functioning market for secondary raw materials. Sector-specific initiatives included the EU Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy, which aimed to make all plastic packaging recyclable or reusable by 2030; measures to reduce food waste by setting a common EU methodology to measure food waste levels; and efforts to ensure the secure supply of critical raw materials through improved recycling and reuse.

Building on the successes of the first, the EU Circular Economy Action Plan 2 (CEAP 2), introduced in 2020 as a core component of the European Green Deal presented a more comprehensive and ambitious strategy. The CEAP 2 identified critical shortcomings in current product design, which often fail to prioritise durability, reusability, repairability, and recyclability throughout the product lifecycle. It also highlighted the lack of accessible information and affordable sustainable choices for both consumers and businesses. To overcome these obstacles and foster a truly circular economy, the CEAP 2 emphasised the need for a well-functioning internal market for sustainable products. A central pillar is the proposed Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), which will set requirements for products to be more durable, reusable, repairable, and easier to recycle. This includes measures like digital product passports, mandatory green public procurement criteria, and a ban on the destruction of unsold durable goods. It also targets resource-intensive sectors with high circularity potential textiles with the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles (published in 2022).

The Green Claims Directive 2024: The Green Claims Directive is an EU initiative aimed at ensuring that environmental claims made by companies about their products and services are clear, accurate, and substantiated. This directive addresses the growing issue of greenwashing, where misleading claims about environmental benefits are made. To combat greenwashing, the directive sets strict guidelines requiring businesses to provide verifiable evidence for their environmental claims. Companies must substantiate claims using recognised scientific methods and have them verified by independent accredited bodies before making them public. They must specify the scope of claims whether they apply to the entire product, a part of it, or a specific aspect of its lifecycle. They also must undergo ex-ante verification, meaning all voluntary environmental claims must be assessed before being presented to consumers. This verification process must be completed within 30 days to ensure timely compliance. The directive covers various aspects such as carbon footprint, resource efficiency, and recyclability. Furthermore, vague or generic environmental claims such as "eco-friendly," "green," "ecological," or "environmentally friendly" without clear and prominent substantiation will be effectively banned if they cannot meet strict criteria. This directive entered into force on the 26 March 2024 and member states must now incorporate its requirements into national law by 26 September 2026. It complements the Directive to Empower Consumers for the Green Transition, which entered into force on the 27 March 2024, further strengthening consumer rights against misleading sustainability claims.

Textile Labelling Regulation: The regulation, which is currently under revision, aims to improve the functioning of the internal market and provide accurate information to consumers. It sets out a framework on how the textile composition is to be declared and how fibre composition should be. The introduction of rules on labelling domains such as sustainability and circularity, care, origin, size and presence of allergenic substances is currently under consideration, with a view to proposing a fundamental revision of the Regulation soon. The planned proposed revision of this regulation aims to be published by the fourth quarter of 2025.

Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD): Under CSRD, companies with over 1,000 employees are required to disclose risks, opportunities, and impacts related to social and environmental issues, including their effects on people and the planet. Textile companies especially large ones, listed SMEs, and non-EU businesses earning over €150 million in the EU must publish detailed sustainability reports, even if textiles are not their core business. By requiring regular disclosures on environmental and social matters, the CSRD aims to help investors, consumers, and other stakeholders understand and compare textile companies' sustainability performance.

Relevant standards

This section highlights various international, European, and industry-specific standards that provide guidance on resource efficiency, waste management, responsible sourcing, and transparency. This overview covers key standards shaping sustainable practices in the fashion and textile sector, including ISO environmental management systems, circular economy frameworks and textile-specific sustainability certifications. This section is divided into horizontal standards, which apply broadly across industries, and sector-specific standards, tailored to the unique sustainability challenges of the textile and fashion sector.

Horizontal Standards:

ISO 14001 Environmental Management System: ISO 14001 is an international standard for environmental management systems, providing a framework for organisations to minimise their environmental impact, comply with regulations, and continuously improve their environmental performance.

ISO 26000 Social Responsibility: ISO 26000 provides guidance on social responsibility, including labour practices, human rights, and community engagement. While not specific to the textile industry, it is relevant for fashion brands seeking to address social issues in their supply chains.

ISO 59000 Family of Standards: The ISO 59000 family of standards focuses on establishing a comprehensive framework for implementing and managing circular economy practices and are located within ISO/TC323. These standards provide guidelines on key areas such as terminology, principles, action planning, performance evaluation, and continuous improvement. The primary aim is to harmonise the understanding and application of circular economy concepts, supporting organisations in achieving sustainable development goals. The first three standards were published in 2024 and are ISO 59004 (key terminology, framework and principles), ISO 59010 (guidance on business models and value networks related to circularity), and ISO 59020 (measurement and assessment of circularity). Recently a new standard was published in 2025, ISO 59040:2025 (product circularity data sheet).

CEN/CLC/JTC 10/WG 8 Method to Achieve Circular Designs of Products: CEN/CLC/JTC 10/WG 8 is a working group focused on developing methods to achieve circular designs of products. The methods developed by CEN/CLC/JTC 10/WG 8 address various aspects of product design, including material selection, manufacturing processes, and end-of-life management. Published in November 2024, EN 45560 provides a standardized method for integrating circularity into product design. Key aspects of the standards include life cycle thinking, material efficiency and design guidance. EN 45560 serves as a horizontal standard, applicable across various product categories, especially where specific product standards are absent. It supports alignment with EU initiatives like the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation and the Circular Economy Action Plan. In addition, CEN/CLC/JTC 10 launched a series of standards related to reuse, repair, and recycling (EN 4555X Series). These include EN 45554:2020 (methods to assess the ability to repair, reuse, and upgrade energy-related products), EN 45555:2019 (methods for assessing the recyclability and recoverability of energy-related products), EN 45556:2019 (methods for assessing the proportion of reused components in energy-related products) and EN 45557:2020 (methods for assessing the proportion of recycled material content in energy-related products). Initially the standards were focused on energy-related products sector related to the Ecodesign directive. Under ESPR, the JTC 10 is required to broaden out its standards development to cover and be relevant to all products.

CEN/TC473-Circular Economy: CEN/TC 473 is the European standardisation committee focused on developing standards for the circular economy. This committee aims to create a coherent framework that supports the transition to a circular economy by setting clear and practical guidelines for industries. The standards developed by CEN/TC 473 address various aspects of circularity, including product design, resource efficiency, waste management, and the use of secondary raw materials. CEN/TC 473 has initiated work through four dedicated Working Groups (WGs), each concentrating on a specific area: WG 1 focuses on circular economy terminology, framework and principles, WG 2 focuses on establishing standards for sharing information related to circular economy practices, WG 3 focuses on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and WG 4 focuses on circular business models.

Regarding the development of the ESPR, there are potential standards under development on DPP including CEN/CLC/JTC 24 (Digital Product Passport: Framework and System), ISO/PWI 25534-1 (Global DPP Standard System).

Sector Specific Standards:

ISO 5157 Textiles — Environmental aspects — Vocabulary: ISO 5157:2023 is a comprehensive standard established to ensure the quality, safety, and sustainability of products across various industries. This standard outlines the requirements for environmental management systems, focusing on reducing environmental impacts, enhancing resource efficiency, and promoting sustainable practices. By adhering to EN ISO 5157:2023, organisations can demonstrate their commitment to environmental responsibility and improve their operational performance. The standard provides a framework for identifying and controlling environmental aspects, setting objectives, and implementing policies that align with global sustainability goals. It also includes guidelines for continuous improvement and compliance with relevant legal and regulatory requirements. EN ISO 5157:2023 helps businesses minimise their environmental footprint and contribute to a greener economy.

ISO standards for the fashion and clothing sector: ISO 22120:2021 (Recycled Textile Materials) for criteria for defining and certifying recycled content in textiles. ISO 105-C06:2010 (Colour Fastness Tests) to ensure durability and longevity of textiles to minimize waste. ISO 18383:2016 (Quantification of Fibre Content) to support recycling and material reuse through accurate identification. ISO 15797:2017 (Industrial Washing and Finishing) to address durability and quality retention in professional applications.

Some CEN standards are more specific for the fashion and textile sector such as CEN/TR 16985:2016 (Textile Recycling Symbols), CEN/TC 248 (Sustainability and Circularity in Textiles), Draft CEN/TC 248 Textiles & Textile Products (Circular economy for textile products), EN 16848:2016 (Bio-based Products Communication and EN 16732:2014 (Dimensional Change in Washing).

Other Industry Standards:

TRUST – Trader Recycling Universal Standard: The TRUST (Trader Recycling Universal Standard) is a pivotal certification programme designed to bolster the transparency and accountability in the recycling industry, particularly for traders of secondary raw materials. This standard establishes rigorous criteria to ensure that trading operations adhere to best practices in environmental, quality, and traceability processes. By complying with TRUST standards, traders can demonstrate their commitment to responsible recycling practices, thereby fostering trust among consumers, partners, and regulatory bodies. This certification not only enhances a trader's reputation but also encourages a more sustainable and efficient global recycling chain. The implementation of such standards is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the recycling industry and for promoting the reuse of materials in an environmentally responsible manner.

More information

The Sustainable Apparel Coalition: Now renamed Cascale, The Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) provides a range of resources on garment care aimed at promoting sustainable practices within the fashion industry. Through their Higg Index, the SAC offers tools that assess environmental and social labour impacts across the supply chain, including best practices for garment care that can minimise environmental footprints. One of the key areas they address is the optimisation of washing, drying, and overall care processes to extend the lifecycle of garments while reducing water and energy consumption. The SAC encourages the industry to adopt practices that not only improve the longevity of apparel but also maintain fabric quality and appearance.

For more detailed information on sustainable garment care and to access the SAC's resources directly, you can visit their website.

British Retail Confederation - Voluntary Guideline on Second-hand and Preloved Items: The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has developed a set of voluntary guidelines focused on second-hand and preloved items. These guidelines are designed to encourage retailers to engage more with the circular economy by facilitating the resale and reuse of goods. This initiative not only helps reduce waste but also promotes sustainable consumer practices by providing clear standards for managing pre-owned goods. By following these guidelines, retailers can ensure that items are processed, presented, and sold in a way that maintains quality and safety standards, thereby building consumer trust in second-hand markets. The guidelines also aim to standardise practices across the industry, creating a more reliable and accessible market for preloved items, which in turn can help in reducing the environmental impact associated with new item production and disposal. Link here.

Global Fashion Agenda: This organisation provides a Circular Fashion System Commitment, which fashion retailers can sign up for to pledge specific actions toward increased circularity. Actions include designing for durability, increasing the volume of used garments collected, and integrating recycled materials into new products.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation: The Foundation offers specific guidance for fashion retailers to transition towards circular business models. This includes designing for longevity, encouraging recycling and reuse, and considering the full lifecycle impacts of garments. These guidelines help retailers rethink how goods are designed, used, and reused to create a more sustainable business model.