Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to help fashion companies become more sustainable.

The Government's 2018 Resources & Waste Strategy for England identified textiles as a priority sector for action, due to significant waste and environmental impacts. A key part of the strategy is working with industry to reduce their environmental impact and become more sustainable.

Our SCAP 2020 programme, delivered by our partner WRAP, supported signatories to reduce their water and carbon footprints per tonne of clothing by 18.2% and 21.6% respectively (between 2012 and 2020).

In 2021 we funded Textiles 2030, a new ambitious programme with signatories representing more than 62% of all clothing placed on the UK market. Targets include a 50% reduction in carbon footprint of new products and 30% reduction in water footprint, both by 2030.

Complementing this, we are considering what framework of policy options could best help reduce textiles and fashion waste, potentially using a range of powers from our landmark Environment Act 2021.