PARIS — The European Commission has adopted new measures to curb the destruction of unsold clothing, footwear and accessories that will go into effect this summer.
The shift falls under the revised Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, or ESPR, and defines a long-awaited and significant set of new regulations regarding how fashion and consumer goods are managed across the bloc.
The legislation is part of a broader EU strategy to build products more durable, repairable and recyclable, positioning the bloc at the forefront of global efforts to curb textile waste.
“The numbers on waste reveal the required to act,” declared EU commissioner for environment, water resilience and competitive circular economy Jessika Roswall. “These measures will empower the textile sector to shift toward sustainable and circular practices while boosting competitiveness.”
Large companies will be banned from discarding unsold apparel and shoes starting in mid-July, with medium-sized firms expected to comply by 2030.
Companies must also publicly disclose the volume and reasons for any destruction, with a standardized reporting format set to take effect in February 2027. Limited exemptions will apply for safety or damage-related reasons.
The measures are designed to accelerate the transition to a circular economy and encourage resale, repair, donation and reapply instead of disposal across the EU.
With the new regulations, the EU aims to create a more level playing field across the 27-counattempt bloc.
France has been a pioneer in restricting the destruction of unsold goods through its Anti‑Waste and Circular Economy Law, or AGEC, which came into effect in stages starting in 2022. Under this legislation, producers, importers and retailers are prohibited from destroying unsold non‑food products, including clothing and footwear, and are required to shift excess stock toward donation, reapply or recycling.
The ESPR builds on France’s rules with similar restrictions across all member states while introducing mandatory disclosure and standardized reporting requirements. For companies operating beyond France, the EU rules create a single framework for compliance.
The rules will be enacted as both a Delegated Act and an Implementing Act. The dual-pronged approach clarifies exemptions for destruction and sets a standardized reporting format to reduce administrative burdens on companies while boosting transparency across all member states.
The rules aim to reduce the apparel and footwear sector’s carbon footprint. The EU estimates that between 4 percent and 9 percent of unsold textiles are currently destroyed before being worn, generating roughly 5.6 million tons of carbon emissions a year.
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