Large companies across the European Union are no longer allowed to destroy unsold clothing, clothing accessories and footwear after new rules under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) entered into force on 19 July. The requirement will extend to medium-sized companies from 2030.

Instead, businesses must prioritise selling products, including through discount channels, donating them to charities or social enterprises, or preparing them for reuse through repair, refurbishment or remanufacturing.

Destruction is permitted only in limited cases, including where products are unsafe, damaged, counterfeit, infringe intellectual property rights, or have been rejected by donation organisations. Companies relying on these exemptions must provide evidence and publish annual reports on discarded goods.

📊 According to the European Environment Agency, between 264,000 and 594,000 tonnes of textiles—around 4–9% of all textile products placed on the European market—are destroyed before they are ever used.

The measure is among the first concrete requirements introduced under the ESPR, part of the EU's broader strategy to make products more durable, reusable, repairable and recyclable while reducing waste across the textile value chain.

Image credit: Waldemar Brandt, unsplash