EU Fashion Return Ban Faces Green Party Criticism Over Loophole Exceptions

The European Union will prohibit the deliberate destruction of unsold clothing, shoes and accessories from 19 July as part of the Eco‑Design Regulation. The rule is intended to stop the yearly waste of millions of garments, estimated at 11‑32 million T‑shirts across Europe.

Greens MEP Anna Cavazzini, chair of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, warned that the recently added exemption clauses create loopholes that could undermine the ban’s effectiveness. She called for clear mechanisms, real‑time monitoring and the Commission’s willingness to adjust the rules if the exemptions are systematically abused.