New EU law bans large companies from destroying unsold fashion

A new European Union regulation has taken effect, banning large companies from destroying unsold clothing and footwear. This measure aims to reduce textile waste and its environmental impact within the bloc.

The regulation permits exceptions for items that are deemed dangerous, damaged, or cannot be reused or repurposed. Additionally, goods offered as donations to social enterprises within the EU that are not accepted within a specified timeframe may also be destroyed. Smaller companies will have a later deadline to comply with these new provisions.

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Clothing is a valuable product whose destruction should be avoided.

According to the European Commission, approximately 4-9% of unsold textiles in Europe are discarded before ever being worn, contributing to around 5.6 million tons of CO2 emissions annually. The commission notes that sometimes disposal is seen as more cost-effective than storing, processing, or reselling products.

Industry associations and environmental organizations have voiced concerns about the law's effectiveness. GermanFashion, a fashion association, suggests the regulation will have minimal impact on many European companies, as they generally do not destroy unsold stock. They argue the real challenge lies with ultra-fast fashion products ordered by consumers directly from non-European suppliers. Environmental groups like Greenpeace warn that companies could easily bypass the law through misdeclaration of products, emphasizing the need for consistent controls.

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Without consistent controls, nothing will change in practice.