Seamless Starts Next Month
An expert from RMIT, Alice Payne, believes that France’s new tax on ultra-fast fashion is a big step forward, but Australia still has a lot of work to do to catch up. France has had a system in place since 2007 where fashion producers are responsible for the waste they create, paying a fee for every item. Australia, on the other hand, is just beginning to implement a similar system.
Australia’s new scheme, called Seamless, was developed by the Australian Fashion Council and the Federal government. It was introduced in June 2023 and will be fully operational next month. This scheme is part of Australia’s goal to create a circular economy by 2030, meaning that products and materials are reused and recycled, reducing waste.
Seamless will charge fashion businesses 4 cents for every item they sell. While the scheme is voluntary, major retailers like David Jones, Big W, and The Iconic have already signed up. The goal is to help reduce the 200,000 tonnes of clothing waste that ends up in Australian landfills each year.
This initiative will help transform how clothes are designed, produced, and disposed of, pushing Australia’s fashion industry toward sustainability. The hope is that this program will reduce overconsumption, especially with ultra-fast fashion, and encourage consumers to shop more sustainably.
While there’s no doubt that Australia has a lot of catching up to do, but with Seamless in place, Australia’s fashion industry has the opportunity to lead positive change and advocate for better policies to benefit the entire country. Let’s hope a lot more Australian fashion brands sign up for it voluntarily! And that it works!
See more:
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