EU Parliament Adopts New Textile Waste Regulations

SG 142/25

EU Parliament approves new rules on textile waste, emphasizing sustainability, producer responsibility and the circular economy under revised EU Waste Framework Directive.

On September 9, 2025, the European Parliament gave final approval to the revised EU Waste Framework Directive, introducing targeted measures to reduce waste and promote circularity in the textile and footwear sectors. The updated rules aim to hold producers accountable for the end-of-life management of their products, covering a wide range of items, including clothing, accessories, hats, footwear, blankets, bed and kitchen linen and curtains.

Under the new directive, all producers, including those based outside the EU and those operating through e-commerce platforms, will be responsible for the costs associated with the collection, sorting and recycling of textile and footwear waste placed on the EU market. Member States must implement extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes within 30 months of the Directive's entry into force, while micro-enterprises will be granted an additional 12 months to comply. In addition, EU countries will have 20 months from the Directive's entry into force to transpose the new rules into national legislation.

The Directive also encourages member states to consider the environmental impact of fast fashion and ultra-fast fashion when setting financial contributions under the EPR schemes.

With approximately 5.2 million tonnes of clothing and footwear waste generated annually in the EU, equivalent to around 12 kilograms per person, and less than 1% of textiles globally being recycled into new products, the legislation marks a significant shift toward circularity. Brands are encouraged to assess their product designs, material choices and supply chains to reduce EPR costs and align with eco-design principles.

Reference:

Parliament adopts new EU rules to reduce textile and food waste

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