The European Commission has adopted new measures under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) to prevent the destruction of unsold apparel, clothing accessories and footwear, in a move aimed at cutting waste and supporting the shift to a circular economy.
Each year in Europe, an estimated 4–9% of unsold textiles are destroyed before ever being worn, generating approximately 5.6 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions — almost equivalent to Sweden’s total net emissions in 2021.
To curb the practice, the ESPR requires companies to disclose information on unsold consumer products they discard as waste and introduces a ban on the destruction of unsold apparel, clothing accessories and footwear.
Two new legal acts adopted on 9 February — a Delegated Act and an Implementing Act — are intended to support businesses in meeting the new obligations.
The Delegated Act clarifies limited and justified derogations under which destruction may still be permitted, such as for safety reasons or where products are damaged. National authorities will oversee compliance.
The Implementing Act establishes a standardised format for companies to disclose the volumes of unsold consumer goods they discard. These disclosure requirements will apply from February 2027, giving businesses time to adapt.
Under the new framework, large companies will be subject to the ban on destroying unsold apparel, clothing accessories and footwear from 19 July 2026. Medium-sized companies are expected to comply from 2030. Disclosure obligations already apply to large companies and will extend to medium-sized firms in 2030.
Companies are encouraged to manage stock more effectively and prioritise alternatives to disposal, including resale, remanufacturing, donation and reuse.
Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, said the textile sector must accelerate its sustainability transition. She noted that the scale of waste demonstrates the need for action and added that the new measures will help strengthen circular practices, enhance competitiveness and reduce dependencies.
The Commission highlighted that the destruction of unsold goods remains widespread. In France alone, around €630 million worth of unsold products are destroyed each year, while in Germany nearly 20 million returned items from online shopping are discarded annually.
The ESPR forms a core part of the EU’s strategy to make products placed on the European market more durable, reusable and recyclable, while improving resource efficiency and advancing the bloc’s circular economy ambitions.
