A decisive step towards a circular economy: On October 16, 2025, the EU Textile EPR Directive came into force. It holds producers of textile products accountable and promotes sustainable management of textile waste throughout the EU.
Textile EPR is in line with the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles and accelerates the development of the EU textile recycling sector. The goal: to promote local jobs, save costs for consumers, and reduce the impact of textile production on natural resources. We believe this is a step in the right direction.
At the same time, textile EPR increases complexity for fashion brands and fashion e-commerce in Europe. We have summarized the most important aspects for you in this article.
Inhalt:
- EU Textile EPR Directive: Extended producer responsibility (EPR) for textiles
- Funding textiles recycling & affected products
- Combating illegal exports of textile waste through EU Textile EPR Directive
- EU Textile EPR Directive: A step towards sustainability
- EPR France: This applies to textiles
- EPR Netherlands: This applies to textiles in Holland
- EPR Spain: Textiles
- EPR Italy: Textiles
- EPR Sweden: Intensive efforts to recycle textiles
- Textile EPR Latvia
- Textile EPR in Hungary
- Conclusion
- FAQ on the EU Textile EPR Directive
EU Textile EPR Directive: Extended producer responsibility (EPR) for textiles.
A key point of the initiative is the introduction of binding and uniform Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)schemes for textiles in all EU member states. This proven practice has already achieved great success in improving waste management for packaging, batteries, and electrical and electronic equipment.
Under EPR, producers will bear the costs of managing textile waste. This is intended not only to create incentives to reduce waste and promote the circular economy of textile products, but also to encourage the design of more sustainable products from the outset.
The amount of contributions for producers will not only be calculated on the basis of quantity or weight, but will also be adjusted according to the environmental performance of the textiles, a principle known as “eco-modulation.” Member States may impose higher fees on companies that engage in fast fashion practices.
Funding textiles recycling & affected products
The proposed regulations of the EU Textile EPR Directive will also help to facilitate the separate collection of textiles from 2025 onwards. Financial contributions from producers will fund investments in capacity for separate collection, sorting, reuse and recycling of textiles. The goal is to ensure that used textiles are sorted for reuse and that non-reusable textiles are prioritized for recycling. These measures will provide new business opportunities and a larger market for used textiles to social enterprises involved in the collection and treatment of textiles.
Products affected by the EU Textile EPR Directive specifically include clothing such as pants, jackets, and dresses; shoes; headwear; home textiles such as blankets, bedding, and curtains; and clothing and clothing accessories made of leather or reconstituted leather. Mattresses are optional: they may be included in member states’ EPR regulations, but this is not mandatory.
Innovation and research for sustainable textiles thanks to EU Textile EPR Directive.
The initiative also aims to promote research and development of innovative technologies for the circular economy in the textile sector. One example is fiber-to-fiber recycling, which can help increase the sustainability of textile products.
Combating illegal exports of textile waste through EU Textile EPR Directive
Another important aspect of the EU Textile EPR Directive is combating illegal exports of textile waste to countries that are not adequately prepared for it. The new regulations clearly define what is considered waste and what is considered reusable textiles. This is intended to prevent waste from being exported under the pretext of reuse. The new regulations also emphasize the need to take social entities such as charities and social enterprises into account in existing textile collection systems and to view them as partners that support reuse and repair.
EU Textile EPR Directive: A step towards sustainability
The EU Textile EPR Directive is a significant step towards a more sustainable and circular textile industry in the EU. Given that the EU generates 12.6 million tons of textile waste annually and currently only 1% of textile waste is recycled into new garments, these measures are of great importance. The introduction of EPR for textiles and the promotion of textile collection, sorting, and recycling will help reduce the environmental impact of textile production and shape a more sustainable future.
Next steps
All EU member states must have introduced textile EPR systems by April 17, 2028, at the latest. The obligations for companies take effect as soon as a member state activates its EPR system. From then on, payment obligations arise for textiles sold in the respective country. Micro-enterprises with fewer than 10 employees and an annual turnover of less than €2 million have an extra 12 months and do not have to pay EPR fees until April 2029.
Textile EPR in the EU: Outlook and current developments
Even though the mills of the European Union grind slowly, there is a lot going on. Some countries have already rolled up their sleeves and are getting down to the business of implementation. Here is a brief overview of current developments within the EU:
In the Netherlands, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management has introduced extended producer responsibility (EPR) for textiles. As of July 1, 2023, producers are responsible for recycling and reusing textiles. This means that producers pay fees that finance, among other things, collection systems and the recycling of clothing and home textiles.
EPR Spain: Textiles
Spain published its draft textile EPR in June 2025, thereby implementing the EU requirements. Final adoption is expected in 2026. Producers will then have three months to register.
All companies that produce, resell, or place textiles or shoes on the market for the first time under their own name in Spain are subject to this obligation. Distance sellers are also subject to the EPR obligation. The EPR fees are based on weight, recycling content, recyclability, and also take fast fashion practices into account.
Important note: The EPR fee must be shown separately and clearly on invoices, not hidden in the product price. This serves as a control mechanism for the authorities.
EPR Italy: Textiles
In Italy, the Ministry of Environment and Energy Safety (MASE), in collaboration with the Ministry of Enterprise and “Made in Italy” (MIMIT), presented a draft decree, setting out the new obligations for producers in the textile sector regarding the design, production, disposal and recycling of textiles. A consultation phase was held with key stakeholders in the industry, who were able to submit their comments.
Among the most important changes announced by MASE for textile producers is that producers must take responsibility for financing and organizing the collection, preparation for reuse, recycling and recovery of textile waste. This can be done through collective or individual management systems. Appropriate financial and organizational resources should be provided to establish a nationwide textile waste collection network. Micro-enterprises will have 12 months extra time after the rules come into force before they apply to them.
Producers should ensure that they develop, produce, and market products that are “suitable for reuse and repair, contain recycled materials, are technically durable, and are easy to repair.” It remains to be seen how these developments will affect the textile industry in Italy.
EPR Sweden: Intensive efforts to recycle textiles
Several efforts to recycle textiles are already underway in Sweden. Companies such as H&M offer a clothing recycling service, and construction of a unique textile recycling plant in Sundsvall has been confirmed to produce a material that can be used to make viscose and other new garments. According to the draft EPR legislation for textiles, producers in Sweden should register with a producer responsibility organization (PRO) to report their waste textiles. It is still unclear when the textiles EPR system in Sweden will be launched.
There are national targets to reduce the amount of discarded textiles in Sweden, with the first target being a 70% reduction in weight by 2028 compared to the 2022 baseline. Remote sellers in (producers selling textiles into Sweden) would also be required under the new rules – to help with reporting, they are allowed to appoint a proxy within the country. Any producer who already makes 80% or more of their textile product from textile waste would not be counted and accordingly would not have to report.
EPR costs for textile producers will increase as they will have to report to a PRO and are expected to pass these costs on to consumers. The draft EPR legislation for textiles therefore estimates that the price of an average T-shirt in Sweden could increase by SEK 0.23 (equivalent to 3 cents in USD). The EPR costs for textile producers will be structured similarly to the costs currently borne by producers of other products made of, for example, plastic or paper: Administrative fees and inspection fees would be paid to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, in addition to collection costs to the PRO.
Textile EPR in Latvia
Since July 1, 2024, all companies selling textile products in Latvia, including online retailers, are required to join a textile EPR system. This new regulation provides for a fee that is used to finance the disposal and recycling of textiles. The Latvian system implements the requirements of the EU Textile EPR Directive and is thus one of the frontrunners in the EU.
Textile EPR in Hungary
Hungary also introduced a textile EPR system in July 2023. This means that here, too, there is already an obligation to register and pay EPR fees. Companies that are not based in Hungary need a so-called Authorized Representative. This is an entity that can act on their behalf to register with authorities, conclude contracts, and report quantities.
In addition to the usual product categories, carpets are also subject to EPR in Hungary. This means that Hungary goes a step beyond the EU regulation.
Conclusion
The establishment of EPR systems for all EU member states has been decided. By April 2028, all countries will have textile EPR systems in place – an important step for the environment. Companies should keep themselves informed about the status of the systems in their target markets and start preparing for compliance early. This means clarifying obligations, setting up data structures, and establishing processes for regular reporting.
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FAQ on the EU Textile EPR Directive
The EU Textile EPR Directive is an initiative of the European Commission that introduces binding schemes for Extended Producer Responsibility for textiles in all EU member states. This makes producers responsible for the entire life cycle of their textile products and requires them to bear the costs of managing textile waste.
In September 2025, the EU Parliament adopted the revised Directive 2025/1892. It officially came into force on October 16, 2025. The directive stipulates that every EU country must have a functioning textile EPR system in place by April 17, 2028, at the latest.
The Textile EPR covers products such as clothing, accessories, blankets, bedding, curtains, hats, and shoes. It also includes products that contain textile-related materials such as leather, imitation leather, rubber, or plastic. EU countries can decide whether or not mattresses fall under the Textile EPR in their jurisdiction.
The amount of the fees is based on the number of items or weight of the products sold. Fees can also be adjusted based on the circularity and environmental performance of the textile products, a principle known as “eco-modulation.” Member states can charge higher fees for companies that engage in fast fashion practices.
Online retailers must register with Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs) for each EU destination country and report their textile products. This means that the obligation does not end after registration, but is associated with regular reports on the quantities sold and payment of the corresponding fees.
For a long time, France was the only EU country with an EPR system for textiles. Since July 2023, the Netherlands and Hungary have introduced their own systems. In Latvia, participation in a textile EPR system has been mandatory since July 1, 2024. Other countries, such as Italy and Spain, are now in the preparatory phase.
According to the EU directive, obligations for micro-enterprises with fewer than 10 employees and an annual turnover of less than €2 million only apply one year after the obligations for other companies. This means they have an extra 12 months to prepare.
Custom-made items from tailors and used textiles that are resold (second-hand) or upcycled are exempt from the textile EPR.
The directive aims to accelerate the development of the sector for separate collection, sorting, reuse, and recycling of textiles. It is intended to promote local jobs and reduce the impact of textile production on natural resources.
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