The country’s local textile industry should integrate sustainability in its business strategy to expand its access to the European market, according to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. said eco-friendly initiatives could serve as a niche for local tropical fabrics to gain an edge in the international market.
He noted that the Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI), an attached agency of the DOST, places primacy on sustainability, particularly in processing fabrics using natural dyes.
‘With this, and in line with the global advocacy of sustainability, this kind of materials are better appreciated when you send them to Europe,’ Solidum told reporters on the sidelines of the 2025 Philippine Textile Congress on Wednesday.
‘We need to have a niche in our efforts. Sometimes it’s not just about being [the cheaper product]. We also need to market our products from an environmental perspective,’ he added.
Solidum said the process of adding color through synthetic dyes and applying finishing for comfort often releases toxins that pose harm for public health and ecosystems.
He added that even washing clothes contributes to this, with each load of laundry releasing about 700,000 microfibers into the water supply.
‘Small actions, multiplied across millions, have an enormous impact on the planet,’ Solidum said.
‘That’s why when we talk about textiles today, we must look beyond fabrics and garments. Textiles are deeply intertwined with our social, economic, and environmental systems.’
He then championed the circular economy, one of the DOST’s big-ticket programs.
‘Circular economy reminds us that what we take from nature must be returned responsibly, and that every stage of production should contribute to regeneration, not waste,’ Solidum said.
He called on the industry to pursue a transformative, science-driven action, such as viewing existing laws focused on safeguarding the environment through a circular lens.
‘Let us.empower communities to shape their own circular textile pathways,’ Solidum said.
Earlier, the European Commission postponed the implementation of EU’s anti-deforestation law for a second time due to bureaucratic delays.
The EU Deforestation Regulation would be implemented instead in December 2026, two years beyond the original 2024 target.
Under this law, exporting countries should prove that their products are ‘deforestation-free and legally produced.’