EUPublished: 9 February 2026

[Regulatory Update] EU's ESPR Applies Ban on Destroying Unsold Clothing and Footwear to Large Companies From 19 July 2026

Source:European Commission

The ESPR ban on destroying unsold clothing, clothing accessories and footwear applies to large companies from 19 July 2026. On 9 February 2026, the European Commission adopted a delegated regulation setting out the circumstances in which destruction will be permitted, and an implementing regulation introducing a standardised format for disclosing the volumes of unsold consumer goods that companies discard. Destruction will be permitted only in specific and justified circumstances, for instance for safety reasons or product damage, and national authorities will oversee compliance. Companies are encouraged to manage stock more effectively, handle returns, and explore alternatives such as resale, remanufacturing, donations or reuse. Medium-sized companies are expected to follow in 2030, and the standardised disclosure format applies from February 2027.

Editor's View

The ESPR's disclosure rules on discarded unsold consumer products already apply to large companies and will also apply to medium-sized companies in 2030. The Commission states that an estimated 4-9% of unsold textiles in Europe are destroyed before ever being worn, generating around 5.6 million tons of CO2 emissions.

※ This article is based on official public information from an external source (European Commission) and has been analyzed and organized for practical use.

Primary Source (Official)

Related Regulation Information

EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR)

The EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) is a comprehensive framework regulation requiring environmentally sound design for nearly all physical products placed on the EU market, excluding categories such as food, feed, and pharmaceuticals. It represents a fundamental strengthening and expansion of the previous Ecodesign Directive, positioning environmental design as an integrated discipline within the EU market by mandating that sustainability requirements be built in from the earliest stages of product planning. The framework rests on four main pillars. First, ecodesign requirements that set product-specific rules covering durability, repairability, reusability, recyclability, environmental footprint, energy efficiency, and restrictions on hazardous chemical content (in coordination with REACH). Second, the Digital Product Passport (DPP), which requires products to carry a data carrier such as a QR code so that material composition, repairability and recyclability, carbon footprint, and other data can be provided and tracked digitally to ensure supply chain transparency. Third, a phased rollout through product-specific delegated acts covering priority product categories one at a time (textiles, steel, aluminum, furniture, tyres, and others). Fourth, market surveillance and conformity control, including exclusion of non-compliant products from the EU market and labelling where required by delegated acts.

See this regulation's full analysis (timeline & business impact)

💡 The overview and schedule for the regulation related to this article can also be found on the Regulatory Gateway Database page.