A new European Union rule banning large companies from destroy Unsold clothing, accessories and shoes came into force on Sunday as part of the bloc’s efforts to reduce waste and make the fashion industry more sustainable.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of tonnes clothes and shoes are thrown all over the place EU due to damaged products, excess inventory, obsolete collections and online returns that are not resold. The new regulation targets large fashion retailers, wholesalers and clothing manufacturers, even though only about 20% of clothing sold in the sector EU is produced within the block.
The measure is part of the EUand initially applies to large companies with more than 250 employees and whose net annual turnover exceeds 50 million euros. These companies are now prohibited from destroy unsold clothes, shoes and fashion accessories.
Instead, businesses will need to look for alternative solutions, such as selling items at a discount, moving them to other markets, or donating them to charities. Destruction will only be authorized in specific cases, in particular when the products are dangerous, damaged, counterfeit or refused by charitable associations.
Companies will also be required to publish annual reports detailing discarded products and keep records of these products for five years. The rules will then be extended to medium-sized companies from 2030.
THE EU introduced the measure in response to growing concerns about fashion waste, particularly linked to the fast fashion sector, which relies on the production of large quantities of cheap, lower quality clothing. According to the European Environment Agency, between 4 and 9% of unsold textile products are destroyed each year.
The problem has worsened with the rapid expansion of online shopping. About one in five fashion items purchased online in the United States EU is returned to the retailer and many of these products are not relisted. Together, these practices contribute to the disposal of hundreds of thousands of tons of clothing, shoes and accessories.
THE EU argues that reducing textile waste is necessary to meet climate goals because burning millions of unwanted garments contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Member States are also encouraged to address the wider environmental impact of the fashion industry, including the use of raw materials, water, energy and transport, while promoting recycling and reuse.
The European Environment Agency said the aim is to move the textile sector towards a circular economy, in which products are designed to last longer and are repaired, reused and recycled rather than thrown away.
“A circular economy, in which products are designed to last and are reused, repaired and recycled, is no longer just a vision, but is enshrined in law thanks to these new legislative measures. » the agency said.
Fashion companies have already argued that destroy Unsold goods can sometimes be less expensive than storing, repairing or selling them at a discount, particularly when demand is low or handling costs are high.
The German Retail Federation welcomed to forbidsaying consumers could benefit from more discounted products available at outlet stores, clearance sales and second-hand platforms. However, the organization also warned that adapting to the new rules could be difficult for retailers.
“Not all unsold goods can be resold or given away easily,” said Stefan Genth, managing director of HDE, pointing to challenges such as damaged packaging, expensive logistics, limited consumer demand and products with very low market value.
Source: Novinite
