The European Union reached a provisional agreement in March of 2024 to implement a direct ban on the destruction of unsold textiles and footwear. This effort is part of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), which aims to improve product longevity, energy and resource efficiency, repairability, and recyclability.
Europe’s textile industry has the fourth highest impact on the environment and climate change, following food, housing, and mobility. The European Environment Agency (EEA) estimates that between 264,000 and 594,000 tonnes of unsold textiles are destroyed each year, much of which ends up in landfills or is incinerated. This practice contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and exacerbates the inefficiencies of the current linear production-consumption system.
The ESPR aims to transition away from the traditional ‘take-make-use-dispose’ textile business model and introduce new requirements for ecodesign, focusing on durability, reusability, energy efficiency, and the use of recycled content. The regulation proposes a “Digital Product Passport,” which will provide detailed information about products to help consumers make more informed choices. This initiative aligns with similar efforts in countries like France, which already has an anti-waste law banning the destruction of unsold non-food products.
The new regulation will require companies to find alternative methods to handle unsold textiles, such as reselling or recycling, rather than destroying them. This move is expected to foster a more circular economy in the fashion industry, reducing waste and promoting sustainable practices.
The ban will have certain exemptions for small businesses with fewer than 50 employees and a transition period for medium-sized companies with fewer than 250 workers. Large companies, on the other hand, will be required to report on the disposal of unsold consumer products, effectively discouraging this practice. Still awaiting formal adoption by the European Parliament and the Council, the ESPR is a critical component of the EU’s broader Circular Economy Action Plan under the European Green Deal.
This new regulation marks a significant step toward sustainability and environmental responsibility in the fashion industry.
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_6257
