The European Commission has announced new rules banning retailers from destroying unsold clothing, accessories and footwear.

As part of the new measures, which come under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), companies will be required to disclose information on the unsold consumer products they discard as waste.

The EU said that instead of discarding stock, companies will be encouraged to manage their stock more effectively, handle returns, and explore alternatives such as resale, remanufacturing, donations, or reuse.

The move comes as figures show that every year in Europe an estimated four to nine per cent of unsold textiles are destroyed before being worn.

This waste generates roughly 5.6 million tons of CO2 emissions, close to Sweden’s total net emissions in 2021.

The ban will come into force for larger companies from 19 July 2026, with medium-sized companies to follow in 2030.

The rules on disclosure under the ESPR already apply to large companies and will also apply to medium-sized companies in 2030.

"The textile sector is leading the way in the transition to sustainability, but there are still challenges," said Jessika Roswall, commissioner for environment, water resilience and a competitive circular economy. "The numbers on waste show the need to act.

"With these new measures, the textile sector will be empowered to move towards sustainable and circular practices, and we can boost our competitiveness and reduce our dependencies."

The rules also outline specific circumstances under which destruction of clothing will be permitted, for example, due to safety reasons or product damage.

The EU is also introducing a standardised format for businesses to disclose the volumes of unsold consumer goods they discard. This applies from February 2027.

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