[ no more new ]
Back

<

Knowledge

JUN 2025

>

EU provisional agreement on extended producer responsibility for textiles

EU provisional agreement on extended producer responsibility for textiles

∆

The EU has agreed on a new extended producer responsibility scheme for textiles, making all brands and retailers finance waste collection, sorting, and recycling based on eco-modulated fees tied to a level of product circularity. The rules, covering everything from apparel to carpets, take effect in 2028.

Can a harmonized EU framework make producers pay for their textile waste, and will it drive accountability?

Background on the EU’s waste framework directive

The EU’s provisional agreement on extended producer responsibility (EPR) for textiles marks a major turning point. From 2028 onward, any company putting clothing, accessories or home textiles on the EU market, no matter where they’re made or where the seller is based, must cover the costs for collecting, sorting and recycling its own waste.

‍

The member states are said to have 20 months after the law’s publication to write these rules into national law. After that producers then get 10 more months to join one of the new collective schemes. Fees are said to be eco-modulated, rewarding sturdier, longer-lasting and more easily reused or recycled designs in products and charging more for throwaway fast-fashion items.

By holding every brand and producer accountable, EU- or non-EU based, the directive closes a major gap in current waste export practices.

‍

This unified EPR push will reshape how products are designed, made and sold, shifting the focus from cheap, short-lived clothing to products built for longevity, transparency and more circularity.

Key elements of the provisional agreement
  1. Scope of products: Applies to clothing, accessories, footwear, bedding and other household textile items.

  2. Fee structure: Eco-modulated fees will be calculated primarily on weight and volume, adjusted for durability and circular features as defined by the Ecodesign for sustainable products regulation (ESPR) or similar criteria.

  3. Timeline: Member states have 20 months to transpose the directive into national law; companies then have 10 months to comply. The directive is expected to enter into force by 2028.

‍

Implications for the textile and fashion industry
  1. Financial responsibility: Brands must now internalize the true cost of end-of-life management, incentivizing use of longer-lasting materials and designs.*

  2. Risk of fragmentation: Allowing member states to set additional criteria - such as product lifespan - could lead to 27 different fee systems, increasing administrative burdens and undermining harmonization
    ‍
  3. Enhanced circular design: Eco-modulated fees reward products that are durable, repairable, and recyclable, pushing innovation toward true circularity
Our perspective and call to action

At Flöde, we see extended producer responsibility as a pivotal catalyst and key for systemic change. By turning waste liabilities into design imperatives, EPR drives the very innovation we champion - scalable upcycling, local remanufacturing, and material-based design methodologies where we value the material and products as long as we can.

‍

As the industry adapts, Flöde offers tailored consulting and education to help brands:

  1. Develop circular product strategies, processes and designs
  2. Implement scalable upcycling that retain material integrity
  3. Develop and drive new knowledge that raises and tackles the problem

Train teams with our workshops or mentorship on the latest regulatory and design frameworks.

No items found.

Learn how we can help you design for circularity and thrive under the new EU producer responsibility regime. Contact us

Back

Flöde is always looking for like-minded individuals who want to learn more about sustainable methods and processes

Contact us

Lets collaborate