EU Enforces Ban on Destroying Unsold Clothes and Shoes

EU ban on destruction of unsold clothes and shoes enters into application

Starting July 19, large EU companies can no longer destroy unsold clothes and shoes, with medium-sized firms following by 2030. This rule under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation forces businesses to prioritize selling, donating, or repairing items instead of burning them. The move aims to save resources and cut emissions, targeting the estimated 4-9% of textiles currently wasted before use.

"When new, usable goods are discarded, the raw materials, water, energy and labour invested in their production are lost, while their disposal generates avoidable greenhouse gas emissions."