Millions of people want to buy more sustainable clothing, but for many the price is simply too high.

We believe Government policy is making that problem worse.

At the moment, clothing made using recycled materials, sustainable fibres and fair working practices is often significantly more expensive than fast fashion. While there are many reasons for this, one of them is the UK’s import tax system.

The current system taxes sustainable clothing in exactly the same way as fast fashion. Although this may sound fair, it actually has the opposite effect. Because sustainable clothing costs more to produce, it also attracts much higher import taxes in pounds and pence.

That extra cost is passed on to consumers, making sustainable clothing even less affordable and widening the price gap between fast fashion and more responsible alternatives.

We believe Government policy should make it easier not harder for people to choose sustainable clothing.

That’s why we’re asking Parliament to reform import duties on clothing. Our proposal would remove import duty on certified sustainable fibres, fabrics and clothing while increasing import duty on qualifying fast fashion imports. This would help reduce the cost of sustainable clothing without reducing overall tax revenue.

For example:

 ● A fast fashion polyester T-shirt may cost £1 to manufacture. After 12% import duty and VAT, the total import cost is around £1.34.

 ● A sustainably produced T-shirt made from recycled or organic cotton may cost £10 to produce. The same tax rates increase the import cost to around £13.34.

Although both pay the same percentage, the sustainable product incurs far higher tax. This widens the price gap between sustainable clothing and fast fashion.

Fast fashion brands can sell T-shirts for under £10, while sustainable alternatives often need to be priced around £40 just to cover costs. Most consumers simply compare prices without seeing how garments are made, and many who want to buy sustainably are discouraged by higher prices.

In other words, the current system makes it harder for consumers to choose better products even when they want to.

HOW IT WORKS?

We believe the UK Government should introduce a differentiated import duty system that supports sustainable production.

Our proposal:

● Strict Certification: Remove import duty on certified sustainable fibres, fabrics and clothing (such as those meeting GRS, GOTS and OCS standards).

 ● Targeted Tariffs: Offset this by increasing import duty on ultra fast fashion imports, particularly large volume shipments (e.g. consignments of 5,000 units or more) associated with high turnover production models.

● Corporate Accountability: This is not a tax on the high street or everyday shoppers. It forces the world’s largest textile polluters to pay their fair share, while driving down the retail price of sustainable clothing for everyone.

This approach would make sustainable products more affordable and give consumers more realistic access to better quality, longer lasting clothing.

This reform would create a fairer marketplace by recognising businesses that invest in better materials, ethical production and lower environmental impact.

For consumers, it means more choice, not just between cheap and expensive, but between products that are genuinely better made and priced more fairly.

The fashion industry accounts for around 10% of global carbon emissions and 20% of global wastewater. If the UK is serious about reducing environmental impact, policy should support sustainable businesses rather than making them less competitive.

We are asking Parliament to reform import duty so that sustainability is rewarded, not penalised.

Signing this petition is a vote for fairer prices, better quality clothing and a system that makes it easier for consumers to choose sustainable options without paying a premium.

Please sign this petition to support a fairer tax system that makes sustainable fashion more accessible and encourages responsible production.

Thank You