France is intensifying its crackdown on ultra-fast fashion, pressing for new eco taxes that would force high-volume clothing producers to shoulder more of the environmental costs of their business models.
Ecological Transition Minister Monique Barbut has asked Refashion, France’s extended producer responsibility body for textiles, to submit proposals within six days to introduce new tax or penalty mechanisms aimed specifically at ultra-fast fashion companies, according to government and industry sources.
The move is expected to build on France’s existing eco-modulation system, under which fashion brands pay fees linked to the environmental performance of products placed on the market. Officials are seeking steeper contributions from companies characterised by rapid product turnover, low prices and short garment lifecycles, which critics say drive textile waste and overconsumption.
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France has already adopted legislation designed to curb the environmental impact of fast and ultra-fast fashion, including plans for progressive eco penalties tied to durability and recyclability criteria. Revenue from the measures is intended to support textile recycling, reuse and broader circular economy initiatives.
By accelerating the push for new eco taxes through Refashion, Paris is positioning itself at the forefront of European efforts to regulate ultra-fast fashion, as policymakers across the bloc debate how to rein in the sector while remaining compliant with EU single-market rules.
