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#Sustainability

Renewables lower energy prices and play key role to reduce vulnerability to fossil fuel supply shocks

Renewables lower energy prices and play key role to reduce vulnerability to fossil fuel supply shocks Boosting the use of homegrown renewable electricity is Europe’s best way to reduce its vulnerability to volatile international energy supplies and rising energy prices according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) assessment published today.

Global gas price spikes this year cost the European Union an additional €13 billion by mid-April, while renewables saved €29 billion. This means renewable energy sources are already shielding Europe from price shocks — and could do so far more — acting as a powerful buffer against gas price volatility, as highlighted in the EEA briefing ‘Renewable electricity: best buffer against gas price volatility'.

Europe’s fossil vulnerability

With around 85% of all gas and 97% of all oil products consumed in the EU in 2024 imported, Europe remains exposed to externa supply shocks with direct implications for competitiveness and strategic autonomy. This continued dependence on fossil fuel imports means European consumers are paying a considerable gas volatility premium especially in wake of external political and economic shocks. In the last five years these have included the war in Ukraine and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the recent the US-Israel-Iran conflict.

Renewables: Europe’s future proofing on prices and beyond

Stepping up the deployment of renewables like wind and solar, could lessen Europe’s fossil fuel import dependence and prevent a potential 125% rise in wholesale prices by 2030, according to the briefing which involves assessing price and renewable rollout scenarios. This is based on a 68% growth of renewable energy use of total EU electricity generation, according to projections from EU Member States in the most recent 10-year network development plans.

The EEA briefing cautions, however, that renewables alone will not deliver price gains. As renewable electricity shares rise, price benefits increasingly depend on grids, storage and demand response to integrate variable solar and wind. Faster electrification of buildings, transport and industry must be matched by parallel progress in renewables, grids, storage, efficiency and demand response to avoid locking in additional gas-fired capacity.

Balanced progress across supply, demand, grids and storage — supported by pricing that favours electrification — is essential to deliver sustained price reductions, the briefing says.

These measures are explored at greater detail in the EEA report ‘Renewables, electrification and flexibility -

For a competitive EU energy system transformation by 2030’.



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#Europe

Circular economy offers the EU win-win on environment and economy

Stepping up a circular economy offers the European Union the potential for significant positive impacts on Europe’s environment and poses an untapped and strategic economic opportunity in terms of better access to materials and the creation of new businesses. Three new assessments on circularity, published today by the European Environment Agency (EEA), also stress the need to accelerate investment in circularity efforts to meet EU climate and environment policy targets.

#Europe

State of Europe’s environment not good: threats to nature and impacts of climate change top challenges

State of Europe’s environment not good: threats to nature and impacts of climate change top challenges Significant progress has been made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, but the overall state of Europe’s environment is not good, especially its nature which continues to face degradation, overexploitation and biodiversity loss. The impacts of accelerating climate change are also an urgent challenge, according to the European Environment Agency’s (EEA) most comprehensive, ‘state of environment’ report, published today. The outlook for most environmental trends is concerning and poses major risks to Europe’s economic prosperity, security and quality of life.

#Europe

EEA Scientific Committee elects new chair and vice-chairs

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#Sustainability

What are the impacts of PFAS polymers on our health and the environment?

The widespread use of PFAS polymers in everything from consumer products to green technologies can lead to contamination of water, air, soil, food and people. A European Environment Agency (EEA) assessment, published today, says that these chemicals can also contribute to global warming and ozone depletion.

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#Sustainability

Execs help steer Cascale’s consumer goods agenda in Athens

The 2026 Cascale Annual Meeting, taking place September 15–17 in Athens, Greece, will convene leaders from across the global consumer goods value chain to tackle one of the industry’s defining questions: how to accelerate meaningful, system-wide transformation. Guiding those conversations as this year’s co-chairs are Sean Cady, vice president, global sustainability, responsibility, trade, and government affairs at VF Corporation, and Dr. Delman Lee, vice chair at TAL Apparel Limited.

#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

SAITEX reports efficiency gains and greater transparency in 2025 Impact Report

Vietnam-based denim manufacturer SAITEX has published its 2025 Impact Report, documenting progress in resource efficiency, chemical management, digital traceability and knowledge sharing across its manufacturing operations in Vietnam and the United States. Rather than focusing on sustainability ambitions, the report presents operational data, manufacturing developments and lessons learned from the past year.

#Raw Materials

Aid by Trade Foundation presents annual report for 2025: Market position and impact of sustainably verified natural fibres strengthened

Despite global supply chain challenges, the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) was able to further expand its international role in promoting sustainably verified natural fibres in 2025. In doing so, the foundation remains true to its fundamental approach of leveraging market forces. Last year, it generated total revenues of EUR 7.8 million; this included EUR 6.7 million collected through the successful marketing of four standards: Cotton made in Africa (CmiA), CmiA Organic, The Good Cashmere Standard (GCS), and the Regenerative Cotton Standard (RCS). AbTF invested the resulting income in projects aiming to protect biodiversity, support women, increase transparency in the textile supply chain, and implement its verification system.

#Sustainability

Textile Exchange reports growth in certifications and industry engagement

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#Europe

European textile industry calls for €10 handling fee on ultra-fast-fashion imports

The introduction of the €3 customs duty on low-value imports marks an important milestone in Europe’s efforts to address the challenges created by the rapid growth of ultra-fast-fashion imports. Together with the abolition of the €150 customs duty exemption, it demonstrates that policymakers are willing to act when market distortions become impossible to ignore. However, the European textile and clothing industry considers this a first step rather than the final destination.

#Research & Development

From smart jackets to laser technology: Mona Neubaur explores Textile Factory 7.0

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#CINTE Techtextil China 2026

Cinte Techtextil China 2026 has opened today, bringing global innovations and resources to Shanghai

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#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

Texworld Apparel Sourcing Paris opens with focus on AI, circularity and new sourcing regions

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