The European Union has adopted a new rule that will
ban the destruction of unsold clothes and shoes to cut
waste and protect the environment. The rule is part of
the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, a law
designed to make products more durable, reusable, and
recyclable.
The ban will start for large companies on 19 July 2026,
and for medium-sized companies in 2030. Companies
must also report how many unsold items they discard
and why, using a standard format from February 2027.
Every year in Europe, an estimated 4 % to 9 % of all
unsold textiles are destroyed before they are ever worn.
This means about 5.6 million tons of carbon dioxide
emissions, which is almost the same as the entire net
emissions of a mid-sized country like Sweden in 2021.
The Environmental Agency also estimates that between
264,000 and 594,000 tons of unsold or returned textiles
are destroyed each year in Europe. This waste adds
pressure to the climate and natural resources.
In some countries, the destruction of returned items is
very large. In France, about €630 million worth of unsold products are destroyed each year, and in Germany,
around 20 million returned items from online shopping
are thrown away.
The new rule is meant to change how the fashion
industry operates. Instead of destroying stock,
companies will need to sell the products in new ways,
donate them, repair them, or recycle them. This puts
pressure on brands to improve stock planning, inventory
management, and circular business systems so they do
not overproduce.
The ban also comes as the EU works to reduce the total
textile waste in the region. In 2020, the EU generated
nearly 7 million tons of total textile waste, and only part of
that was collected for recycling or reuse. Most still ends
up in mixed waste streams.
Industry experts say this law could reshape how global
fashion companies plan and sell their products. Because
the rules apply to all products sold in the EU, brands
outside Europe will also need to follow them. This may
push global supply chains to adopt more transparent
and sustainable practices.