EU Bans Destruction of Unsold Textiles and Shoes
As of 19 July 2026, large enterprises across the European Union are prohibited from destroying unsold clothing, clothing accessories, and footwear, marking a major step in the bloc’s push toward a circular economy. The ban, enacted under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), targets a practice that wastes between 264,000 and 594,000 tonnes of textiles each year and generates approximately 5.6 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
Why the Ban Matters
The scale of textile waste in Europe is staggering. According to the European Environment Agency, an estimated 4-9% of all textile products put on the market in Europe are destroyed before ever being used. This waste represents not only lost resources — raw materials, water, energy, and labour — but also significant environmental damage. The emissions from destroyed textiles are nearly equal to Sweden’s total net emissions in 2021.
“The textile sector is leading the way in the transition to sustainability, but there are still challenges,” said Jessika Roswall, EU Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy. “The numbers on waste show the need to act.”
Who Is Affected and When
The ban applies first to large enterprises — those with 250 or more employees or an annual turnover exceeding €50 million — from 19 July 2026. Medium-sized enterprises (50-249 employees) must comply from 19 July 2030. Small enterprises (10-49 employees) and micro enterprises (fewer than 10 employees) are exempt from the direct ban, though they remain subject to other ESPR requirements.
Nathalie De Greve, Director of Sustainable Development at Comeos, the Belgian Federation of Commerce and Services, explained the intent: “This is a measure that Europe is taking to avoid waste of new products. It is part of a whole series of measures for companies to contribute to the circular economy.” She added that the regulation is designed “to make our companies think about the quantities of products they put on the market. They must try to better align supply and demand to avoid unsold goods.”
What Counts as Destruction?
The ban covers intentional destruction of unsold consumer products, including sending items to landfill, incineration, shredding, or compacting. Companies are instead encouraged to sell unsold inventory at a discount, donate to charitable organizations, recycle through certified textile recycling, repair or refurbish products, or store them for future sale.
Narrow exceptions exist for products with verified safety defects that cannot be remedied, items with irreparable physical damage (fire, flood, contamination), products that have exceeded regulatory shelf life, counterfeit goods, and items rejected by charities. Companies relying on these exemptions must document their justification and maintain records for five years.
Enforcement and Disclosure
National authorities in each EU member state will enforce the ban and can impose fines for violations. Penalties are required to be “effective, proportionate and dissuasive.” Companies must keep detailed records to allow inspections.
Since July 2025, large and medium enterprises have been required to disclose information on unsold products they discard. A standardized reporting format was adopted in February 2026, with the first annual reports using this format due in February 2027. This will create comparable data across companies, enabling benchmarking by journalists, NGOs, and ESG investors.
Industry Reactions and Competitive Concerns
While European industry groups broadly support the environmental objectives, they have raised concerns about enforcement across all market players. Nathalie De Greve highlighted the challenge from Chinese fast-fashion platforms: “The textile sector faces strong competition from Chinese platforms like Temu or Shein. They put on the European market products that are very cheap and of poor quality, which often do not respect European ecodesign standards. We want a level playing field between our companies and these foreign companies.”
Broader Implications
The destruction ban is the first concrete enforcement measure under the ESPR, which came into force in July 2024. It will be followed by additional requirements, including Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) rules expected in 2028, which will make companies financially responsible for the collection, treatment, and recycling of unsold products. Digital Product Passport requirements for textiles are also expected to follow around 2028-2029.
For Belgian companies affected immediately — including retailers like JBC, PointCarré, ZEB, and e5 mode — the ban means rapidly establishing alternative channels for excess inventory. The regulation incentivizes better demand forecasting, smaller production runs, and circular business models that prioritize reuse and recycling over disposal.
What to Watch For
Key questions remain as the ban takes effect: How effectively will national authorities enforce the rules across all 27 member states? Will Chinese fast-fashion platforms face equivalent scrutiny? And will the ban genuinely reduce overproduction at the source, or simply shift the problem to secondary markets? The answers will shape the future of fashion in Europe for years to come.
Sources: European Commission, RTBF, PassportCraft