EPR for Sporting Goods in France: How T1TAN achieves compliance
Discover how T1TAN ensures long-term compliance for EPR requirements related to sporting goods with the ecosistant Premium Service.
At a glance
T1TAN sells goalkeeper gloves and sportswear online across Europe and beyond. In France, a separate EPR system applies specifically to sporting goods. In addition to packaging EPR obligations, textile products are subject to further EPR requirements, depending on the country.
ecosistant is the trusted partner supporting T1TAN in implementing all EPR compliance requirements. Because EPR compliance does not end with registration. It also includes ongoing volume reporting, packaging material adjustments, labeling obligations, waste management plans, and much more.
Company size
SME
Industry
Sporting goods and sportswear
Shipping destinations
International
EPR waste streams
Packaging, textiles, sporting goods
Sales channels
D2C
Special requirements
EPR for sporting goods alongside textile and packaging EPR
The starting point
T1TAN specializes in goalkeeper equipment, with a focus on goalkeeper gloves. In addition, the company sells other sporting goods and sportswear online to customers across Europe and around the world. In practice, this quickly becomes complex once multiple countries are involved. France in particular presents additional challenges because it has extra EPR product categories that do not exist in many other countries and that come with their own requirements.
For T1TAN, goalkeeper gloves fall under EPR for sporting goods, while sportswear falls under textile EPR. Both categories come with their own challenges, are managed by different Eco-Organismes (Producer Responsibility Organizations, or PROs), and impose different requirements on producers. Correctly classifying products into the appropriate category is often the first major hurdle for any company dealing with EPR obligations in France.
In addition, product packaging must also be registered with a PRO in France, regardless of the product category. In France, all registration proofs are issued in the form of an IDU (Identifiant Unique). This is a unique identification number issued by the French environmental authority ADEME for each company and waste stream. When selling on marketplaces, the number serves as proof of registration. It is often linked to additional obligations, such as displaying the number on invoices, legal notices, or websites.
The challenge
In France, the distinction between sporting goods and textile products is not always straightforward. Does a sports jacket fall under EPR for sporting goods or textile EPR? Which PRO is responsible for which category? And which data needs to be reported, and when?
There is also the broader European dimension. Many countries are currently introducing textile EPR, while EPR for sporting goods is mainly relevant in France for now. Each country has its own product definitions, registration authorities, and reporting cycles. What is classified as a textile in the Netherlands may be defined differently in France.
For T1TAN, this created a significant coordination effort: Which registrations are required and where? How is the IDU obtained for the various product categories? Which powers of attorney need to be granted? How should data for EPR for sporting goods be prepared? And most importantly: How can the entire process remain manageable as additional countries are added?
At the same time, EPR obligations are evolving rapidly. By 2028, every EU country must have introduced its own textile EPR system, and regulations for additional waste streams may be introduced at any time, either nationally or across the EU.
Our solution
ecosistant helped T1TAN take a practical approach to managing EPR obligations. The focus was on creating a reliable compliance structure that works not only in France, but can also be expanded to additional countries.
The first step was clear product classification. ecosistant’s dedicated Key Account Manager conducted a structured analysis to determine which T1TAN product groups belong to which EPR category. For example, goalkeeper gloves were classified under EPR for sporting goods, while sportswear was assigned to textile EPR. The goal was to create a reliable foundation that could be translated into accurate reporting data.
Based on this, ecosistant implemented the appropriate setup for France: selecting the right Eco-Organismes for sporting goods, textiles, and packaging EPR, handling registrations, providing the required IDUs and product labeling information, and establishing processes for ongoing volume reporting.
For T1TAN, the process became simple: provide the necessary data, sit back, receive the EPR numbers and labeling information, done.
“ecosistant not only helped us with EPR for sporting goods in France, but also built a system that allows us to cover new markets efficiently,” explains Laura from the Product Management team at T1TAN. “We no longer have to fight our way through government websites or contact PROs individually. Everything runs in the background.”
The result
Since partnering with ecosistant, T1TAN has obtained all required EPR documentation in France for sporting goods, textiles, and packaging. The IDUs are in place, reporting runs regularly, and whenever marketplaces request proof, all documents are readily available in the ecosistant portal.
This has not only created legal certainty, but also reduced the workload for internal teams. Instead of navigating multiple EPR categories, T1TAN can focus on product development and sales. And as additional countries are added, the process is already established.
Do you sell sporting goods in the EU?
Categorizing sporting goods for EPR is often more complex than expected:
- Are yoga mats classified as sporting goods or textiles?
• Do ski pants fall under textile EPR or sporting goods EPR?
• How are helmets, treadmills, or fitness trackers categorized?
Different rules apply depending on the country and product type. Resolving these uncertainties takes time and creates compliance risks. ecosistant helps simplify the process.
ecosistant supports online retailers across Europe in implementing EPR compliance for all relevant waste streams. Smaller businesses can use the digital Self-Service platform with step-by-step guidance for each country. For mid-sized and larger companies, ecosistant’s Premium Service handles the operational implementation, including coordination across countries and waste streams.
If you are currently dealing with EPR for sporting goods in France or selling sports and textile products across Europe, use the country guides in the Self-Service platform or talk to the team about the Premium Service for fully outsourced compliance management.
Learn more about the ecosistant EPR Premium Service or get started directly with the digital EPR Self-Service platform.
“EPR was completely new to us, especially in France with its many different categories. With ecosistant, we have a partner who takes the complexity of implementation off our hands. I’m grateful to have a dedicated Key Account Manager at ecosistant who thinks ahead for us and supports us professionally with every question, no matter how small.”
Laura Bauer
Product Management, T1TAN GmbH
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