Organisations within the Technical Secretariat of the Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR) for Apparel & Footwear have voiced further concerns about the method for calculating a product’s ‘Duration of Service’, which is factor in determining a garment’s environmental footprint.

The Apparel & Footwear PEFCR is a methodology measuring the environmental footprint of products following similar rules across the European Union (EU). It aims to create a standardised method of assessment across clothing and footwear.

However, organisations including the International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO) claim the rules that determine how long a garment or footwear item lasts fails to reflect reality, which “significantly distorts environmental scores”. The rule