From 19 July, large companies across the EU are prohibited from destroying unsold clothes, clothing accessories and footwear.
The ban on destroying unsold textiles is one of the first concrete measures under the ESPR.
Textiles are the first product group subject to this ban due to the negative environmental impacts of current business models, which often lead to the destruction of unsold goods.
EEA briefing - The destruction of returned and unsold textiles in Europe’s circular economy | European Environment Agency.
New EU rules to stop the destruction of unsold clothes and shoes (February 2026) | European Commission.
Commission Delegated Regulation setting out derogations from the prohibition of destruction of unsold consumer products | EUR-Lex.
Commission Implementing Regulation on the details and format for the disclosure of information on discarded unsold consumer products | EUR-Lex. »