The European Commission has adopted new measures under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) to prevent the destruction of unsold apparel, clothing accessories, and footwear. The rules will apply from July 19, 2026, for large companies, with medium sized companies expected to follow in 2030.

Every year in Europe, an estimated 4% to 9% of unsold textiles are destroyed before ever being worn. This waste generates around 5.6 million tons of CO2 emissions, almost equal to Sweden’s total net emissions in 2021. The ESPR requires companies to disclose information on the unsold consumer products they discard as waste and introduces a ban on the destruction of unsold apparel, clothing accessories, and footwear.

The new measures clarify under which circumstances destruction will be permitted. The Delegated Regulation outlines specific and justified circumstances, such as safety reasons or product damage. National authorities will oversee compliance. The Implementing Regulation introduces a standardized format for businesses to disclose the volumes of unsold consumer goods they discard. This new format will apply from February 2027 to give businesses time to prepare.

The regulations aim to steer the textile sector toward circular and sustainable practices. By transforming unsold inventory management into a corporate responsibility requirement that goes beyond mere compliance, the measures encourage brands to invest in circular solutions such as resale, repair, and remanufacturing through transparency and reporting obligations. Enacted in line with Europe’s circular economy goals, the regulations are set to make competitiveness and long-term sustainability defining factors for all actors across the textile supply chain.