EU Parliament Approves Textile EPR Directive: What Producers Need to Know

On Tuesday 9th August 2025 the EU Parliament gave the 'final green light' on Textile EPR for all EU member states. This is a much-awaited go ahead, and something we have been eagerly awaiting to come into place to support the goal of a circular economy. The commissions first proposed the revision of EU waste rules for food and textiles in July 2023 as it is estimated that less than 1% of all textiles worldwide are recycled into new products. 

Why this matters 

The measures are to prevent and reduce waste from food and textiles across the EU. The new rules aim to reduce food waste in line with 2030 targets, focusing on food processing, manufacturing and retail, restaurants, food services, and households; expanding the scope to encompass all areas of food waste.  

Key requirements for producers 

Producers that place textiles on the EU market, much like packaging, WEEE, and batteries will now have to cover the costs of collection, sorting, and recycling. New producer responsibility (EPR) schemes are being set up in each member state, and there is a deadline of 30 months to have these systems in place to support the directive. The new laws will affect all producers including those using e-commerce tools and irrespective of whether producers are established in an EU member state or outside the union. Micro-enterprises* have been given an extra year to comply with the EPR requirements and implement the required changes. 

Scope of products

Products included in the scope for the new directive:

• Clothing  
• Accessories 
• Hats 
• Footwear 
• Blankets 
• Bedding  
• Kitchen linen 
• Curtains 

EU countries also have the opportunity to set up specific mattress producer EPR schemes to ensure proper collection and recyclability of mattresses.  

The scope of products within the new directive is wide and highlights the push towards the financial burden of waste disposal to be placed on producers. Member states will be arranging financial contributions in line with the environmental impact of the products in scope. 

The new directive places a spotlight on the ultra-fast fashion and fast fashion industries as major drivers of textile waste. There is an expectation that modulated fees could be introduced. Fees will vary depending on how textile products are designed. Items that are durable, repairable, recyclable, or made with recycled fibres will attract lower fees. In contrast, clothing that is cheap, low-quality, short-lived, or hard to recycle will be more expensive for producers to place on the market. 

The 2030 vision is to create a greener textiles sector. This has created a major shift among consumers, creating a new sustainable ecosystem in the textile industry – focusing on the entire lifecycle of the product, striving towards durable, repairable, and recyclable products.  

Next steps 

In the near future the law will be signed by both co-legislators ahead of its official publication in the EU Official Journal. EU countries have 20 months following its entry into force to transpose the rules into their national legislation. In the coming months we will have further clarity on the steps that producers need to take to ensure compliance with this new EPR law.  

Textiles Compliance is already required for some countries in the EU. Find out more here.  

*In the EU, a micro enterprise is defined as an enterprise with fewer than 10 employees and an annual turnover or balance sheet total of less than 2 million euros. This definition is part of the broader classification of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) used across the European Union, based on the Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC.