EU ban on destruction of unsold clothes and shoes enters into force
From July 19, large companies across the EU are prohibited from destroying unsold clothes, clothing accessories and footwear, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Environment said on July 17.
Medium-sized companies will be subject to the same rules from 2030.
The measure, introduced under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), aims to prevent the waste of valuable products and the resources used to make them.
When new, usable goods are discarded, the raw materials, water, energy and labour invested in their production are lost, while their disposal generates avoidable greenhouse gas emissions.
“By encouraging reuse, repair and more resource-efficient business practices, the new rules support the transition to a more circular and competitive European economy,” the directorate-general said.
Under the new rules, businesses must prioritise keeping products in use by selling them (including through discounts or alternative markets), donating them to charities or social enterprises, or preparing them for reuse (repairing, refurbishing or remanufacturing).
Destruction will be allowed only under specified circumstances and must be carried out in accordance with the waste treatment hierarchy, giving priority to recycling.
Companies may only destroy unsold clothes and shoes in limited cases, such as when items are unsafe or damaged, counterfeit or infringing intellectual property rights, or are rejected by charities or donation schemes.
To prevent misuse, businesses relying on these exemptions must provide proof (e.g. documents or test results) and publish annual reports on what they have discarded.
National authorities will check compliance and can impose fines for violations. Companies must keep records for five years to allow inspections.
To reduce paperwork, businesses will use existing customs and logistics codes when reporting. Small and micro-businesses are exempt from these requirements.
(Photo: Ngaulin, via Wikimedia Commons)
