Source: European Parliament
As recognised by the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles[1], the Commission has introduced the following initiatives to address the challenges associated with the exports of used textiles and textile waste: a targeted revision of the Waste Framework Directive (WFD)[2], for which a provisional agreement was reached on 18 February 2025; the new Waste Shipment Regulation (WSR)[3], and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR)[4].
The WFD introduces Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for textiles, making producers accountable for the products they make available on the EU market.
Under EPR, Producer Responsibility Organisations, in line with the waste hierarchy, are expected to organise the collection of used textiles and textile waste, and the operations for re-use, preparing for reuse and recycling. Additionally, the WFD establishes new requirements for the sorting of separately collected textiles prior to their shipment as used textiles.
The WSR complements the WFD by ensuring that exports of textile waste are managed in an environmentally sound manner. Different rules apply to exports to Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and non-OECD countries.
Non-OECD countries can continue receiving textile waste only if they notify the Commission of their intention to import EU waste and demonstrate their ability to deal with it in a sustainable manner .
The ESPR introduces a ban on the destruction of unsold textiles, aimed at preventing the overproduction of textiles and their potential export to third countries.
These initiatives should ensure that only used textiles of appropriate quality reach Third Countries, meeting the demand for affordable second-hand clothing from the EU.
- [1] https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/textiles-strategy_en.
- [2] Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste and repealing certain Directives, OJ L 312, 22.11.2008, p. 3-30, as amended by Directive (EU) 2018/851 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May, OJ L 150, 14.6.2018, p. 109-140.
- [3] Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 on shipments of waste, amending Regulations (EU) No 1257/2013 and (EU) 2020/1056 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1013/2006.
- [4] Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for sustainable products, amending Directive (EU) 2020/1828 and Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 and repealing Directive 2009/125/EC.