MEP Jessica Polfjärd (PPE) has questioned the European Commission about proposed new carbon and environmental footprint labels for textiles and clothing, arguing that additional labels risk confusing consumers and increasing administrative burdens for businesses. In a written parliamentary question submitted on 8 July 2026, Polfjärd also raised concerns that the scientific basis for the labels may be weak, citing experts in the Commission's own Ecodesign Forum, and warned that labels not based on full life-cycle assessments could inadvertently contribute to greenwashing.
first, how the new labels would benefit consumers compared to already established and trusted voluntary labels such as the EU Ecolabel and the Nordic Swan Ecolabel; and second, how the introduction of new labels aligns with the EU's simplification agenda and the commitment to reduce the 'labelling jungle' set out in the Directive on empowering consumers for the green transition (Directive (EU) 2024/825).
Polfjärd's question reflects a tension between consumer protection and business competitiveness, as well as between regulatory clarity and environmental ambition. The Commission's Joint Research Centre has been developing the new footprint labels as part of broader work on textiles, but the MEP's intervention highlights concerns from industry and some experts about the practical impact of adding new requirements. The Commission is expected to respond within approximately six weeks, and its answer will signal whether it intends to proceed with mandatory or voluntary labels, and how it plans to address the risk of overlap with existing schemes.