By Abbas Nazil
The European Commission has adopted new rules to ban companies from destroying unsold clothing, accessories and footwear as part of efforts to reduce waste and boost the circular economy.
The measures fall under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, and are designed to curb environmental damage while encouraging more responsible business practices across the textile sector.
Each year in Europe, between four and nine percent of unsold textiles are destroyed without ever being used, generating an estimated 5.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, nearly matching Sweden’s total net emissions in 2021.
To address this, companies will now be required to disclose how many unsold consumer products they discard and will face a ban on destroying unsold apparel, clothing accessories and footwear.
The European Commission said the new rules would create a fairer market for companies investing in sustainable models while reducing unnecessary waste.
Specific exemptions will apply only in limited cases such as safety concerns or serious product damage, with national authorities responsible for monitoring compliance.
A standardised reporting system will also be introduced from February 2027 to ensure transparency on how much unsold stock businesses throw away.
Large companies will be required to comply with the destruction ban from July 19, 2026, while medium-sized firms will follow in 2030, alongside expanded disclosure obligations.
Instead of discarding goods, businesses are being encouraged to improve stock management and explore alternatives such as resale, reuse, donation, remanufacturing and repair.
Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall said the textile industry plays a major role in the transition to sustainability but still faces serious waste challenges.
She noted that tackling unsold goods would strengthen Europe’s competitiveness while reducing environmental harm and dependence on raw materials.
The Commission highlighted that the problem is widespread across Europe, with France alone destroying about €630 million worth of unsold products each year.
In Germany, nearly 20 million returned items are discarded annually, a trend driven largely by online shopping.
Textiles remain a key focus of EU environmental policy due to their heavy resource use and pollution footprint.
The Ecodesign regulation aims to make products more durable, reusable and recyclable while improving efficiency across the EU market.
Officials believe the new rules mark a significant step toward a cleaner, more sustainable and circular European economy.l
