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EU bans destruction of unsold clothing and footwear
The European Union has adopted a regulation that prohibits large manufacturers from destroying unsold new clothing, accessories and shoes. Medium‑sized firms will have to comply from 2030. The rule contains exemptions for hazardous, damaged or heavily soiled items that cannot be reused, and it obliges companies to publicly report the quantity of unsold goods they discard and how they redirect them—whether by donation, recycling or sale on second‑hand platforms.
Industry estimates indicate that 4 %‑9 % of textiles in the EU—about 600 000 tonnes each year—are destroyed before they are worn, while only roughly 12 % of unsold clothing is reused. To address the recycling challenge for mixed fibres, the Josef Ressel Center in Tulln, Austria, is developing biotechnological processes to separate textiles. A pilot recycling plant is slated for construction within the next one to two years, aiming to test half‑industrial‑scale recycling of mixed fabrics.
The regulation is expected to reduce waste, shift surplus stock toward donation or resale, and stimulate advances in textile recycling across the EU market.
Entities
Andrea Čović Vidović · Christian Schimper · European Union · Josef Ressel Center · large clothing manufacturers · medium‑sized clothing firms
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Medium‑sized firms will be required to comply with the ban starting in 2030. www.072info.com · www.vijesti.ba · vijesti.hrt.hr
- [● 3 SOURCES] The EU rule exempts hazardous, damaged or heavily soiled items that cannot be reused from the ban. noe.orf.at · www.wienerzeitung.at · www.072info.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] 4‑9 % of EU textiles are destroyed before being worn, amounting to about 600,000 tonnes annually. www.wienerzeitung.at · www.072info.com · www.vijesti.ba · vijesti.hrt.hr
- [● 5 SOURCES] EU regulation prohibits large manufacturers from destroying unsold new clothing, accessories and shoes. www.wienerzeitung.at · www.072info.com · noe.orf.at · www.vijesti.ba · vijesti.hrt.hr
- [● 4 SOURCES] Only about 12 % of unsold clothing is reused. www.072info.com · www.vijesti.ba · vijesti.hrt.hr · www.wienerzeitung.at
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A pilot recycling plant is planned to be built within the next one to two years. noe.orf.at
- [● 3 SOURCES] Companies must publicly report the quantity of unsold goods they dispose of and how they are redirected (donated, recycled, sold second‑hand). www.wienerzeitung.at · www.072info.com · noe.orf.at
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Josef Ressel Center in Tulln, Austria, is developing biotechnological processes to separate mixed textiles for recycling. noe.orf.at