The European Commission has approved new rules designed to reduce the destruction of unsold clothing, shoes and accessories. The measures are part of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation and rest on a simple principle: an item for which resources and labour have already been spent should not be sent to waste simply because it did not sell in time.
According to estimates, 4% to 9% of unworn textiles are destroyed in Europe each year, and the related emissions reach 5.6 million tonnes of CO2. That is roughly comparable to the annual emissions of more than a million cars — except that this concerns neither transport nor industry, but the burning of completely new items.
Large companies will be required to disclose data on the number of unsold goods sent to waste. From July 2026, a direct ban on destroying unsold clothing and footwear will apply to large businesses. Medium-sized companies will have to meet these requirements by 2030. The regulation includes exemptions, for example for dangerous or damaged goods. A single reporting format will be introduced for transparency. This will give authorities a tool for oversight and the market clearer rules.
Until now, discussions about sustainability have often focused on materials, packaging and broad promises. Now attention is shifting to the full life cycle of a product: from production to what happens if it does not find a buyer. The new measures encourage alternatives such as discounting leftovers, modifying products, donating them to charity and reusing them. As a result, items can serve a useful purpose for longer, and the fashion industry can become noticeably more sustainable and rational.
