EU Passes Landmark Legislation to Cut Food and Textile Waste: What It Means for Producers and the Fashion Industry

In a major move towards a more sustainable future, the European Parliament has officially adopted sweeping new measures aimed at reducing waste from food and textiles across the EU. The legislation, approved on Tuesday 9th September 2025, introduces binding targets and extended producer responsibilities (EPR) that will significantly reshape how waste is managed in both sector, particularly in fashion and food retail.

Targeting Food Waste: Ambitious Goals by 2030

Under the updated directive, EU member states must meet binding food waste reduction targets by 31 December 2030. These include:

• A 10% reduction in food waste from processing and manufacturing
• A 30% per capita reduction in food waste from retail, food services, restaurants, and households

The targets will be measured against the average levels of food waste generated between 2021 and 2023. To support these efforts, EU countries will also be required to identify key players in the food supply chain and ensure they facilitate the donation of safe, unsold food to those in need an initiative designed to both reduce waste and address food insecurity.

A Turning Point for the Textile Industry

The new legislation also marks a transformational shift for textile producers, with the EU mandating Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes across all member states. These schemes must be implemented within 30 months of the directive’s entry into force and will require textile producers to finance the collection, sorting, and recycling of their products sold into the EU.

Key details include:

• Scope: Applies to all producers (including non-EU and e-commerce sellers) of clothing, accessories, footwear, hats, blankets, bed/kitchen linen, and curtains
• Micro-enterprises: Granted an additional year to comply
• Mattresses: May be included at the discretion of individual member states
• Fast fashion: Countries are encouraged to address ultra-fast fashion practices when determining financial contributions to EPR schemes

This is a significant development for the fashion industry, especially considering that textile waste in the EU exceeds 12.6 million tonnes annually, with clothing and footwear alone accounting for 5.2 million tonnes.

Next Steps and Implementation Timeline

The law will now proceed to official signing by both co-legislators before its publication in the EU Official Journal. After that, EU countries will have 20 months to transpose the new rules into national legislation.

A Catalyst for Change – Industry Response

The new EPR obligations are expected to have far-reaching impacts on supply chains, business models, and product design. While some industry players may feel the added pressure of compliance, others view the legislation as a long-overdue push toward circularity.

James Beard, Head of Voluntary Compliance at Valpak – a brand by circular economy specialists Reconomy – captured the wider significance of the ruling:

“The European Parliament’s adoption of new rules on textile waste marks a landmark moment for the industry. The ruling means that, over the coming years, producers selling textiles into the EU will need to take direct financial responsibility for the collection, sortation, and recycling of textile products once they reach the end of their life.

With the EU generating more than 12 million tonnes of textile waste annually, this legislation will accelerate the move towards circular business models and more sustainable consumption.

That said, the requirements will bring added costs and operational pressures for producers at a time when many are already under strain. The challenge will be to balance these new financial obligations with the need to remain competitive.

This regulatory shift should not be seen as a compliance burden but as a catalyst for innovation. Businesses that act early to improve data systems, redesign products with circularity in mind, and collaborate across the reuse and recycling value chain will be best placed to absorb the impact while unlocking new efficiencies and opportunities.”

As the fashion and design sectors navigate these upcoming changes, one thing is clear: sustainability is no longer optional it’s a legislative imperative and a strategic opportunity. Brands that move early and smart will not only stay compliant but help shape the future of fashion and responsible design in the EU and beyond.