🇪🇺 EU REGULATIONS FOR SUSTAINABILITY IN THE TEXTILE SECTOR

(Current and Future, as of mid-2025)

Here you can read about the EU regulations in the sustainability sector, current and planned. Reach out for any questions. #TheCircularityLawyer

✅ CURRENT EU REGULATIONS & POLICIES

1. Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC, revised)

    • Separate collection of textile waste mandatory by Jan 1, 2025
    • Promotes the waste hierarchy: prevention, reuse, recycling before energy recovery or disposal.
    • Sets the basis for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes

2. REACH Regulation (EC) No 1970/2006

    • Restricts harmful chemical substances in textiles (e.g. azo dyes, PFAS, phthalates)
    • Requires disclosure of Substances of Very High Concern in registry (SVHC)
    • Encourages safer, more environmentally friendly chemical alternatives in textile production.

3. EU Ecolabel for Textiles (EC) No 66/2010

    • Voluntary label for low-impact, sustainable textiles

 

6. Directive on Corporate Sustainability Reporting (CSRD) – 2022/2464/EU

    • Replaces the NFRD (Non-Financial Reporting Directive).
    • Requires large companies (and later SMEs) to report on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) impacts, including supply chain sustainability.
    • Covers textile companies as part of affected industries. 

 

5. Waste Shipment Regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1013/2006)

 

    • Regulates the export of textile waste to non-EU countries.
    • Aims to ensure waste is treated sustainably and not just dumped in developing countries.

6.    EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles (2022)

    • Roadmap for mandatory design, durability, and transparency rules
    • Basis for ESPR, EPR, and other legal measures

 

🔜 UPCOMING / PLANNED EU LEGISLATION

1. Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR)

  • Status: Adopted; implementation begins late 2025
  • Textile-specific measures:
    • Applies ~6 months after ESPR enters into force
    • Exemptions/delays of up to 6 years for SMEs
    • Mandatory design requirements (durability, repairability, recyclability, recycled content)
    • Digital Product Passport (DPP) for textiles
    • ✅ Ban on destruction of unsold/unworn textiles, especially for large producers

2. Digital Product Passport (DPP)

  • Status: Framework defined under ESPR
  • Rollout: Starting with textiles by 2026–2027
  • Will include material composition, origin, carbon footprint, repair guides, recyclability

3. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Textiles

  • Status: Proposed under Waste Framework Directive revision
  • Expected Adoption: Late 2025
  • Implementation by Member States: 2026 onward
  • Producers will cover costs of collection, sorting, reuse, recycling
  • Eco-modulated fees: lower fees for sustainable, circular design

Sweden, France and the Netherlands have already implemented a national EPR. See below NATION-LEVEL ACTION

 

4. Green Claims Directive - BREAKING NEWS - EC has announced to withdraw. Stay tuned for updates on that! 

  • Status: Political agreement reached early 2025
  • Enforcement: From 2026
  • Requires:
    • Scientific proof of sustainability claims
    • Third-party verification
    • Targets greenwashing in fashion/retail

5. Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)

  • Status: In force since 2024, phased by company size
  • Large brands must report on:
    • Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data
    • Textile-specific supply chain impacts

6. Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD)

  • Adopted: 2024
  • Enforcement: From 2027
  • Applies to large companies
  • Requires companies to assess and act on human rights and environmental risks in their supply chains

7. Microplastic Restrictions (REACH)

  • Status: Adopted 2023
  • Bans intentionally added microplastics; affects textile coatings and finishes
  • Additional scrutiny on microfiber shedding from synthetic fibers

8. EU Taxonomy for Sustainable Activities

  • Financial tool classifying environmentally sustainable investments
  • Will increasingly apply to circular textile business models

9. Planned Ban on Destruction of Unsold or Unworn Goods (Textiles & Footwear) on basis of Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR / COM/2022/142) - proposed 

  • Status: In legislative process; likely adoption by 2025
  • Scope:
    • Applies to textiles, footwear, electronics, and other consumer goods placed on the EU market
    • Ban on destroying unsold goods, with initial focus on textiles and footwear.
    • Large companies will be prohibited from destroying:

New, unsold consumer products (e.g. overstock or returns that are unused).

Especially targets fast fashion brands known for dumping large volumes of unsold stock.

  • SMEs may be exempt initially, but may face requirements in the future.
  • Reporting obligation: Companies will have to report how many goods are discarded or destroyed, and why
  • Member States can impose penalties for non-compliance.

 

🌍 National-Level Action (Supporting EU Law)

Several member states are advancing sustainability with local laws that may exceed EU minimums:

  • France: Anti-Waste Law for a Circular Economy (AGEC) – bans destruction of unsold clothes, enforces repairability labeling, mandatory EPR for textiles.
  • Sweden & Germany: Pilot programs for textile collection, reuse, and recycling incentives.
  • Netherlands: Circular textiles roadmap aiming for 50% circular textile use by 2030.