Policies, guidelines and regulations for sustainable textile production

Policies, guidelines and regulations for sustainable textile production

Industrial practices are highly regulated in the European Union to restrain harmful emissions.

• Industrial Emissions Directive

The Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) is the main reference point for this. The legislation identifies industrial activities required to operate following permits granted by the authorities in EU Member States. The revision proposed in 2022 increased the focus on energy, water and material efficiency, reuse, and safer industrial processes, while the Directive (EU) 2024/1785 fundamentally overhauls the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED), combining stricter environmental performance limits with leaner, digital processes.

• Textile BREF

The Best Available Techniques (BAT) Reference Document (BREF) for the Textiles Industryis part of a series of documents presenting the results of an exchange of information between EU Member States, the industries concerned, and non-governmental organisations promoting environmental protection. This BREF addresses pretreatment installations (washing, bleaching, mercerisation) or dyeing of fibres or textiles.