Brussels Bans Large Companies From Destroying Unsold Clothes And Shoes
Large firms must sell, donate or repair unsold stock from 19 July 2026 under the EU's 2024 Ecodesign law; medium firms wait until 2030.
- Companies may still destroy goods only if unsafe, counterfeit, or rejected by charities.
- Firms must keep five years of records and publish annual reports on discarded stock.
- Europe destroys an estimated 264,000 to 594,000 tonnes of unsold clothing yearly.
Why it matters: Why does a law against textile waste wait four more years to bind the mid-sized firms producing it?
European Commission - Environment (DG ENV) ↗ · Jul 18, 20267/18/26 · ✓ Checked✓ Check