As of 19 July, large companies across the European Union are no longer permitted to destroy unsold clothing, apparel accessories and footwear, as part of the EU’s efforts to reduce waste and protect the environment.
The measure was introduced under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). Medium-sized companies will become subject to the same rules from 2030.
Ecodesign involves incorporating environmental considerations into a product’s development, with the aim of minimising its environmental impact throughout its entire life cycle.
Discarding new and usable products wastes the raw materials and energy consumed during their production. It also generates greenhouse gas emissions that could otherwise have been avoided.
Under the new rules, businesses must prioritise keeping products in use by selling or donating them instead of destroying them.
By encouraging reuse and repair, the measures support Europe’s transition towards a circular economy in which products and raw materials remain in use for as long as possible.
