How does the EU plan to reduce the destruction of unsold or returned textiles?

Here are some ways the EU plans to reduce the destruction of unsold or returned textiles:

  • Transparency Obligation: The EU intends to implement a transparency obligation that requires large companies to publicly disclose the number of unsold or returned products they discard and destroy, including textiles. This disclosure must also include details about how these discarded products are handled, such as whether they are prepared for reuse, recycled, incinerated, or sent to landfills. This measure aims to disincentivize the destruction of unsold textiles by increasing transparency and promoting accountability within the industry.
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  • Potential Bans: Subject to receiving empowerment under the proposed Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation and a dedicated impact assessment, the EU is considering introducing bans on destroying unsold products, which may include unsold or returned textiles. The EU recognizes the environmental and economic costs associated with discarding unused goods and aims to shift the industry towards more sustainable practices.
  • Addressing Returns: The EU acknowledges the role of e-commerce in potentially contributing to the destruction of unsold clothing due to high return rates. To mitigate this issue, the EU plans to collaborate with the textile industry to assess how emerging technologies like digital precision technologies can reduce online clothing returns, encourage on-demand custom manufacturing, enhance industrial process efficiency, and minimize the carbon footprint associated with e-commerce.
  • Prohibition on Destroying Unsold Consumer Apparel: The EU's Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, adopted in 2024, prohibits the destruction of unsold consumer apparel, clothing accessories, and footwear starting from July 19, 2026. This prohibition stems from the EU’s recognition of the significant environmental impact caused by the overproduction and short use phase of textiles, particularly clothing. This ban aims to encourage alternative solutions, such as reuse, donation, or recycling, to minimize waste.
  • Extension to Other Consumer Products: Although the initial ban focuses on apparel and footwear, the EU plans to expand this prohibition to other unsold consumer products based on environmental impact assessments. This indicates the EU's ongoing commitment to addressing the broader issue of waste generation across various consumer product categories.

The sources emphasize the EU's multifaceted approach to minimizing textile waste, encompassing measures to increase transparency, potentially ban destructive practices, leverage technology to reduce returns, and implement targeted prohibitions on destroying unsold goods. These actions are part of the EU’s broader strategy to promote a more sustainable and circular textile industry.