EuroCommerce launches comprehensive report on Global Textiles Supply Chain

EuroCommerce, the association representing European retailers and wholesalers, unveiled a new report today. The report, prepared by Copenhagen Economics, with the support of the EuroCommerce STAR interest group (Sustainable Textiles and Apparel Retail and Wholesale), provides an in-depth, fact-based analysis of the global textiles supply chain for products sold to consumers in Europe.

Retailers and wholesalers connect customers to a rich diversity of apparel, footwear, and home textile product. The sector creates significant economic value and employment and provides an important channel for cultural expression. However, the contribution of the sector is frequently oversimplified, and the intricate reality of the global value chain remains underappreciated.

The report is a snapshot of our sector and its development. It explores the interwoven challenges and opportunities of global supply chains, including environmental and social challenges, benefits to local economies, administrative burdens from fragmented legislation, and the transformative potential of sustainability innovation.
Christel Delberghe, Director General of EuroCommerce, commented: "This report is a significant step towards fostering a nuanced understanding of our sector. It highlights the need for well-designed, data-informed policies that acknowledge the complexity of our supply chain and its global nature. we hope it will spark thoughtful discussions and informed decisions by policymakers, ensuring the European textiles and apparel sector remains a global leader and a growing force for positive change."

Like many other sectors, the European textile sector’s value chain has become increasingly international. The value and volume of European import and export of textiles has risen substantially since 2000, partly due to the EU’s trade agreements, which have provided developing countries with a possibility to grow within textile manufacturing and sell in the EU. Most of the sector’s value creation is within Europe. The textile sector has a large global economic contribution, totalling EUR 189 billion in value added in 2023, of which 86 per cent was produced in Europe.

EuroCommerce believes this report will help in crafting effective, forward-looking solutions that take into account the interlinked challenges and benefits of globalised business models.