Under the new rules, businesses should give priority to keeping products in use, selling them, donating them to charities or social businesses.
The Sunday 19 July, on the basis of a communication from the European Commission, new rules will be put into effect for large enterprises, which will provide for the creation of a single market. prohibit the destruction of ill clothes, clothing accessories and shoes, under the Ecodesign Regulation for Sustainable Products (ESPR). Medium-sized enterprises are expected to follow July 2030.
As the Commission states, by promoting reuse and recycling, these rules will promote more rational use of resources, reducing environmental damage and creating equal competitive conditions for businesses. Thus, the textile sector will be able to adopt faster more circular practices.
CO2 emissions
In Europe it is estimated that every year 4%-9% of unwell textile products are destroyed before they are even used. These wastes produce approximately 5.6 million tonnes of CO2 emissions.
The Regulation ESPR, which entered into force in July 2024, comes to significantly enhance the sustainability of products placed on the European Union market, improving their cyclicity, energy efficiency, recyclability and resilience.
On the basis of the Commission, the ban on the destruction of unwell textile products is one of the first concrete measures of the Espr Regulation.
The Regulation also requires undertakings to take the necessary measures. make public information on unspoiled consumer products which reject as waste, in the simplest possible way and without additional administrative burden.
All of this reflects the growing consumer concerns about textiles waste and its effects. fast fashion in the environment and society.
What business should do
In accordance with the new rules, undertakings should give priority to keeping products in use, selling them, donating them to charities or social enterprises or preparing them for reuse.
The destruction will only be allowed under specific conditions and should be carried out in accordance with the prioritisation of waste treatment methods.
Already from February 2026, the Commission has adopted measures to clarify in what circumstances this disaster will be allowed, for example for safety or damage reasons.
