Jurisdiction
For products sold in EU
Law Summary
The EU is updating its core waste law, with key agreed changes for textiles mandating Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes across all Member States. These schemes will require producers to finance the separate collection, sorting, and recycling infrastructure for textile waste.
Law Obligation
The introduction of EU wide EPR schemes would require fashion brands and textile producers to pay fees to help fund the textile waste collection and treatment costs. These schemes will be established up to 30 months after the entry into force of this directive.
The level of fees will be based on the circularity and environmental performance of textile products (known as eco-modulation). As preventing waste is the best option, the general approach sets out that member states can require higher fees for companies following ‘fast fashion’ industrial and commercial practices.
The general approach also contains specific provisions for member states where there is a higher share of textile products assessed as fit for re-use on the market. Those member states can ask commercial re-use operators to pay a (lower) fee when making those products available on their market for the first time.
