The European Commission has adopted measures to prevent the destruction of unsold clothing, accessories, and footwear in the European Union. The rules fall under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and aim to reduce waste generation, limit environmental impact, and promote a level playing field for companies that implement more sustainable business models.

According to data collected by the Commission, between 4% and 9% of unsold textiles are destroyed in Europe each year before they are used. This practice generates around 5.6 million tons of CO₂ emissions, a figure comparable to Sweden's total net emissions in 2021.

To address this situation, the ESPR introduces an obligation for companies to report on unsold consumer products that they dispose of as waste, as well as an explicit ban on the destruction of unsold clothing, accessories, and footwear. The measures are implemented through a delegated act and an implementing act adopted alongside the decision.

The delegated act establishes specific and justified exceptions under which the destruction of these products will be permitted, such as for safety reasons or damage to the items, while national authorities will be responsible for monitoring compliance. The implementing act introduces a standardized format for disclosing data on the volume of unsold products that are disposed of, a requirement that will apply from February 2027.

The Commission notes that, as an alternative to stock disposal, companies can improve their stock and returns management, as well as explore options such as resale, remanufacturing, donation, or reuse.

The ban on the destruction of unsold clothing, accessories, and footwear will apply to large companies from July 19 of this year, while medium-sized companies will be required to comply by 2030. Disclosure obligations already apply to large companies and will be extended to medium-sized companies in that same year.

Regarding these measures, Commissioner for the Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, stated that “the textile sector is leading the transition to sustainability, but challenges remain. Waste figures demonstrate the need for action. With these new measures, the textile sector will be able to move towards sustainable and circular practices, while strengthening our competitiveness and reducing our dependencies.”

The Commission notes that the destruction of unsold products is a widespread practice with a significant economic and environmental impact, and emphasizes the central role of the European Solid Waste Reduction (ESPR) in promoting more durable, reusable, and recyclable products in the European market.