EU seen as potential market for sustainable Philippine textiles

PHILIPPINE TEXTILES could establish a market niche in the European Union (EU) if they successfully navigate sustainability regulations, according to the Department of Science and Technology (DoST). 

“We noticed that in some countries, their processing uses more chemicals and therefore are harmful to the environment,” Science and Technology Secretary Renato U. Solidum, Jr. said on the sidelines of the 2025 Philippine Textile Congress on Wednesday.

He said the DoST Philippine Textile Research Institute is promoting sustainability and the use of natural dyes.

“This kind of material is better appreciated when you send it to Europe,” he said.

“We have to have a niche. Minsan hindi lang pamurahan ’yan (Sometimes it’s not just about price), we need to also market our products through the environmental lens,” he added.

Entering the EU market has become increasingly challenging due to its new and emerging regulations as part of the EU Green Deal.

These include the EU Deforestation Regulation, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation.

Mr. Solidum said the textile market is highly competitive for large-scale production but noted that tropical fabric is a niche the Philippines can compete in.

“This will be our edge. We need now more from the traditional textile industry to invest in the Philippines’ tropical fabric because, by law, government employees need to wear Philippine tropical fabric,” he said.

“Hindi lang nama-maximize ’yan ngayon (It just can’t be maximized at the moment) because there’s no mass production of Philippine tropical fabric … That is why we are asking the private sector to invest here; otherwise talagang magkakaroon ng stalemate (development will stall),” he added.

He said the Philippine tropical fabrics remain expensive because they are not yet mass-produced.

“If more people use it, it will be cheaper and more competitive. But you have to scale operation, and scaling up operations needs investment,” he added. — Justine Irish D. Tabile