New EU rules to stop destruction of unsold clothes and shoes

The European Commission has adopted new regulations to prevent the destruction of unsold apparel and footwear under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). Each year, 4-9% of unsold textiles in Europe are destroyed, causing significant CO2 emissions. The new measures will require companies to disclose discarded unsold products and ban the destruction of unsold clothing by large companies starting July 2026. Medium-sized companies will follow in 2030.

Jessika Roswall stated, "The textile sector is leading the way in the transition to sustainability." The aim is to promote sustainability in production and support European competitiveness.