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The SWITCH-Asia Programme will be conducting a series of “Internal thematic consultative and brainstorming meetings” as part of 2021-mid-2022 activities and through joint efforts with partner countries and key organisations in the region. In this regard, the 2021 EU SWITCH-Asia Internal Thematic Meeting on Textile and Garments will be held on 24 February 2021, from 15:00 to 17:00 Bangkok time, through WEBEX platform.
Despite the economic contribution of the textile and garment industry in the global economy, there remains a challenge for the industry to address the socio-economic, health, and environmental impacts across the garments sector value chain due to increasing irresponsible and unsustainable consumption and production.
The EU’s textiles industry is the fourth largest cause of environmental pressures after food, housing, and transport. Much of this impact is attributed to a large portion of the textiles consumed in Europe, which are produced elsewhere in the world, mostly in Asia. Production of garments takes place, to a large extent, in Asia – accounting for over 50% of the world’s supply of fibres and fabrics - while much of consumption takes place in Europe and the US, with an increasing share of the middle class in other regions of the world. The environmental impacts typical of the initial stages of fibre productions and garments manufacturing are largely generated in Asia, while impacts related to the use and disposal of garments are largely generated in Europe or exported.
To achieve sustainable consumption and production (SCP) of textile and garments along its value chain, partnerships between Asia and Europe have to be strengthened. There is a need to shift towards a circular textile and garments production and consumption system and partnerships play a key role to build a more resilient garment supply chains in Asia and Europe.
The EU SWITCH-Asia Programme provides the platform for partnerships and networks in between Europe and Asia for the implementation of national strategies and action plans and implementation of SCP practices to transition towards a low-carbon, resource-efficient and a more circular economy while contributing to poverty reduction.
The objective of the meeting is to strengthen cooperation and partnerships in delivering activities through the three SWITCH-Asia components, involving the Country EU Delegations, the National Focal Points within Ministry of partner countries together with SWITCH-Asia implementing Ministry in case different, the Grant projects, and selected partner organisations, to ensure cross-border exchange of experiences and larger impact.
The meeting will focus on the SWITCH-Asia achievements in promoting SCP in the textile and garment sector through the national support and grant projects provided to countries. The discussion will be on the role of stakeholders on how to scale up success stories from grants and support initiatives to foster innovative solutions and to address challenges that the sector is facing including the current COVID-19 pandemic.
