The European Parliament is expected on Tuesday to give its final approval to updated EU waste legislation aimed at reducing textile waste. The new rules introduce extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes, requiring manufacturers to fund and manage the collection, sorting, reuse, and recycling of waste textiles.
The European Parliament is set to approve new rules to cut textile waste in the EU, introducing extended producer responsibility schemes obliging manufacturers to manage collection, sorting, reuse, and recycling.
The EU produces 12.6 million tonnes of textile waste yearly, with clothing and footwear making up 5.2 million tonnes, while less than 1 per cent of textiles are recycled globally.
The reform follows a deal reached between Parliament and Council earlier this year, after which Council adopted its first reading position. Parliament’s endorsement will clear the way for publication in the EU Official Journal.
According to the European Commission, the EU generates 12.6 million tonnes of textile waste annually, of which clothing and footwear alone account for 5.2 million tonnes—equivalent to 12 kg per person each year. Yet less than 1 per cent of textiles worldwide are recycled into new products, highlighting the scale of the challenge.
The revised legislation is part of the EU’s broader push for circularity and sustainability in textiles, a sector identified as one of the four largest sources of environmental pressure globally.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU)
