The European Commission has this month adopted new measures under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) aimed at preventing the destruction of unsold apparel, clothing, accessories and footwear.
The rules will assist cut waste, reduce environmental damage and create a level playing field for companies embracing sustainable business models, allowing them to reap the benefits of a more circular economy.
Every year in Europe, an estimated 4-9% of unsold textiles are destroyed before ever being worn. This waste generates around 5.6 million tons of CO2 emissions – almost equal to Sweden’s total net emissions in 2021.
To assist reduce this wasteful practice, the ESPR now requires companies to disclose information on the unsold consumer products they discard as waste. It also introduces a ban on the destruction of unsold apparel, clothing accessories and footwear.
The Delegated and Implementing Acts adopted will support businesses in complying with these requirements by clarifying exceptions to the general rule and accelerating disclosure.
The Delegated Act outlines specific and justified circumstances under which the destruction will be permitted, for instance, due to safety reasons or product damage. National authorities will oversee compliance, while the Implementing Act introduces a standardised format for businesses to disclose the volumes of unsold consumer goods they discard. This applies from February 2027, giving businesses sufficient time to adapt.
Instead of discarding stock, companies are being encouraged to manage it more effectively, handle returns and explore alternatives such as resale, remanufacturing, donations or reapply.
The ban on the destruction of unsold apparel, clothing accessories and footwear and the exceptions will apply to large companies from July 2026 and medium-sized companies are expected to follow in 2030. The rules on disclosure under the ESPR already apply to large companies and will also apply to medium-sized companies in 2030.
“The textile sector is leading the way in the transition to sustainability but there are still challenges,” declares Jessika Roswall, commissioner for the environment, water resilience and a competitive circular economy. “The numbers on waste reveal the necessary to act. With these new measures, the textile sector will be empowered to relocate towards sustainable and circular practices, and we can boost our competitiveness and reduce our depconcludeencies.”
In France alone, unsold products with a value of around €630 million are destroyed each year while online shopping also fuels the issue – in Germany, nearly 20 million returned items are discarded each year.
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