EU Bans Destruction of Unsold Apparel
The European Commission has introduced measures that ban the destruction of unsold apparel, accessories, and footwear, requiring brands to disclose what happens to surplus stock. The move comes as European authorities are also reportedly investigating fashion brands for potential "greenwashing," or making misleading sustainability claims. These actions signal a new era of regulatory pressure for transparency and accountability in the industry.
- This ban is part of the broader Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), which aims to improve the circularity, energy performance, and durability of goods sold in the EU. - The prohibition on destroying unsold apparel, accessories, and footwear will take effect for large companies on July 19, 2026, with medium-sized companies required to comply by 2030. Micro and small businesses are exempt from the ban. - Annually, an estimated 4-9% of all textile products marketed in Europe are destroyed before they are ever used, which amounts to between 264,000 and 594,000 tonnes of textiles. This practice generates approximately 5.6 million tons of CO2 emissions each year. - The regulation allows for specific, justified exemptions to the ban, such as for products that are damaged, pose a safety risk, or infringe on intellectual property rights. - In addition to the ban, companies will be required to disclose the volume of unsold goods they discard, using a standardized format that will be implemented in February 2027. - Penalties for non-compliance will be determined by individual EU member states and are required to be "effective, proportionate and dissuasive," potentially including fines and product recalls. - The push for these regulations comes as textile consumption in the EU has the fourth-highest impact on the environment and climate change, following food, housing, and mobility. On average, each European discards about 16 kilograms of textiles annually.
