The European Parliament has formally approved new measures aimed at preventing and reducing waste from food and textiles across the European Union.
The legislation requires producers placing textiles on the EU market to cover the costs of collection, sorting and recycling through extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes. Each member state must establish such schemes within 30 months of the directive entering into force. The provisions will apply to all producers, including those operating via e-commerce, regardless of whether they are based in the EU or outside. Micro-enterprises will have an additional year to comply.
The scope of the rules covers products such as clothing, accessories, hats, footwear, blankets, bed and kitchen linen, and curtains. Following a Parliament initiative, member states will also be able to set up EPR schemes for mattress producers.
When determining financial contributions under the EPR schemes, member states will be required to take account of fast fashion and ultra-fast fashion business models.
According to the second reading procedure, the President announced in plenary that the proposed act was deemed adopted, following agreement by the Council earlier this summer.
The law will now be signed by both co-legislators before its publication in the EU’s Official Journal. Member states will then have 20 months to transpose the rules into national legislation.
