Overview
- The European Commission adopted Delegated and Implementing Acts under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation that prohibit destroying unsold apparel, accessories and footwear and require disclosures on written‑off stock.
- Large companies must comply with the destruction ban from 19 July 2026, a standardised reporting format starts in February 2027, and obligations expand to medium‑sized firms in 2030.
- Narrow exceptions allow destruction only in defined cases such as health or hygiene risks, irreparable damage, rejected donations, intellectual property violations or when it causes the least environmental harm, with national authorities overseeing compliance.
- EU estimates indicate 4–9% of unsold textiles are destroyed each year, generating about 5.6 million tonnes of CO2, with reports citing €630 million in unsold goods destroyed annually in France and nearly 20 million returned items discarded each year in Germany.
- Critics argue the measures do not curb overproduction, while manufacturers and suppliers are treating the 2026 and 2030 deadlines as signals to invest in resale, repair, take‑back and recycled inputs.