New EU Rules to Stop the Destruction of Unsold Clothes and Shoes

On 9th February, the European Commission adopted new measures under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) to prevent the destruction of unsold apparel, clothing accessories and footwear, marking a landmark move in the transition towards a more circular European textiles sector.

The new rules aim to cut waste, reduce environmental damage and level the playing field between brands already investing in circular business models and those still operating linear “take-make-dispose” systems. 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. At the same time, around 12 kilograms of clothing per person is discarded annually across the EU, even as overall clothing and footwear consumption continues to rise.

What the ESPR Measures Introduce

To tackle this wasteful practice, the ESPR introduces two major obligations:

• A ban on the destruction of unsold apparel, clothing accessories and footwear, with limited and clearly defined derogations (such as for safety or product damage), overseen by national authorities.
• Mandatory disclosure requirements, meaning companies must report the volume of unsold consumer goods they discard as waste.

The ban will apply to large companies from 19th July 2026, with medium-sized companies expected to follow in 2030. Disclosure requirements already apply to large businesses and will extend to medium-sized enterprises in 2030. A standardised reporting format will apply from February 2027, giving companies time to adapt their systems.

The European Commission has also adopted Delegated and Implementing Acts to support compliance. These clarify when destruction may be permitted under strict conditions and introduce a harmonised format for reporting unsold goods. Businesses are encouraged to strengthen inventory management, improve returns processes and explore alternatives such as resale, reuse, remanufacturing, donation and high-quality recycling.

Industry Reaction

Commenting on the announcement, Aimee Campanella, Development Director, Textiles EPR at Reconomy, said:

“This is another important step in tackling the low levels of circularity in textiles, the soaring volumes of waste generated, and the sector’s significant contribution to carbon emissions. Every year in Europe, an estimated 4 to 9 percent of unsold textiles are destroyed before ever being worn, generating millions of tonnes of avoidable carbon emissions. At the same time, around 12 kilograms of clothing per person is discarded each year in the EU, even as overall clothing and footwear consumption continues to rise.”

She added: “For brands and retailers, these rules are a clear signal that linear take-make-dispose models are being phased out. Circular solutions can be challenging to implement in practice, but this ban, combined with Extended Producer Responsibility for textiles — which makes producers responsible for the full lifecycle of their products — will push the market towards better design, better data and better end-of-life management. Those that move early on resale, reuse, repair and high-quality recycling will be better placed to manage compliance risk and protect brand reputation in a more circular textiles sector.”

Reconomy supports textile brands with ESPR-aligned services that aim to turn unsold stock from a compliance risk into a managed outcome, helping reduce destruction-risk inventory, scale reuse and resale channels, and generate the data required to meet transparency and destruction-ban obligations.

A Broader Circular Shift

The textile sector has been identified as a priority area for reform due to its significant environmental footprint. In France alone, an estimated €630 million worth of unsold products are destroyed annually. Online retail is also contributing to the issue in Germany, nearly 20 million returned items are discarded each year.

“The textile sector is leading the way in the transition to sustainability, but there are still challenges. The numbers on waste show the need to act,” said Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy. “With these new measures, the textile sector will be empowered to move towards sustainable and circular practices, and we can boost our competitiveness and reduce our dependencies.”

The ESPR forms a central pillar of the EU’s sustainability strategy. By making products placed on the EU market more durable, reusable and recyclable, the regulation aims to drive efficiency, strengthen circularity and ensure that sustainable business practices become the norm rather than the exception.

For brands and retailers, the message is clear: the era of disposing of excess stock is ending. Strategic inventory planning, circular design, resale infrastructure and transparent reporting will no longer be optional – they will be fundamental to operating within the European market.

Image courtesy of Reconomy