Textiles EPR

EU Legislation

The EU has made textile EPR a legal requirement, mandating that all member states introduce national schemes aligned with the revised Waste Framework Directive.
This shifts the responsibility for managing textile waste from local governments to producers which includes brands, retailers manufacturers, importers, and distributors.

The objectives are to:

• Reduce dependency on virgin materials
• Build functioning systems for collection, sorting, reuse, and high-quality recycling
• Encourage eco-design and sustainable production

By harmonising the approach across the EU, this legislation lays the foundation for a more circular textiles sector.

Timeline

Each Member State will implement its own national legislation, with key EU deadlines:

• June 2027: Establish national EPR schemes
• April 2028: Full operation required
• Micro-enterprises: 12-month extension

Countries may launch legislation earlier, creating varying start dates, reporting cycles, and PRO structures. Multinational businesses must monitor obligations in each market, register with local Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs), and manage country-specific requirements.

Early preparation is key: collecting the right data, mapping supply chains, and understanding product portfolios reduces compliance risk and operational disruption.

Producer obligations

Textile EPR defines responsibilities for any organisation placing products on the market direct to consumers. Requirements typically include:

• Funding collection, sorting, and recycling systems
• Supporting reuse and repair pathways
• Designing products for durability, repairability, and recyclability
• Reporting accurate product and material data to PROs

While PROs coordinate activities, businesses remain responsible for compliance, creating a shift from reactive reporting to proactive lifecycle planning.

Data reporting

Reliable data underpins textile EPR. Depending on the scheme, reporting may cover:

• Product categories, volumes, and material composition
• Supply chain and market placement
• Durability, repairability, and recyclability attributes
• Collection and treatment outcomes

Accurate reporting measures national circularity progress and supports the transition to better-designed, longer-lasting textile products.

Benefits

There are several benefits to implementing EPR schemes to handle textiles waste.

These include:

• Producer responsibility: Shared accountability for end-of-life management ensures materials remain in circulation.
• Funding for waste management: Producer fees support sorting facilities, repair/refurbishment operations, recycling technologies, and expanded collection networks.
• Encouraging circularity: Regulations incentivise longer product lifespans, repairability, reduced fibre complexity, and reuse-first practices.
• Incentivising innovation: Producers explore eco-design, recycled materials, circular business models, and advanced recycling technologies; making sustainability a competitive advantage.

Scope

Textile EPR covers a broad range of products. While categories currently vary by country, the EU’s amendments to the Waste Framework Directive streamlines scope by utilising CN codes and includes

• Clothing
• Footwear
• Home textiles (e.g., towels, bedding, curtains)
• Textile accessories (e.g., hats, bags)
• Clearly defining scope helps businesses understand which products fall under EPR, enabling them to plan reporting and fee requirements accurately.

Global trends

Although the EU is leading the rollout, textile EPR is gaining momentum worldwide. Other regions, including parts of North America and Asia, are exploring similar systems due to rising textile waste volumes and environmental impact. For example, California is establishing the nation’s first textile EPR program, with producers required to join an approved stewardship organization by 2026 and full program implementation expected by 2030.

This signals a long-term shift toward transparent, accountable, and circular textile supply chains.

Business implications and opportunities

Textile EPR introduces new responsibilities, but also new opportunities.

Producers and retailers will need to manage data collation, material composition reporting and eco-modulated producer fees. At the same time, EPR creates incentives to adopt circular business models, strengthen supply chain visibility and invest in better product design.

For sorters and recyclers, EPR can unlock dedicated funding, improve material quality and support long-term investment in sorting and recycling infrastructure. Early movers will be best placed to turn compliance into competitive advantage.

Understanding how textile EPR differs by region

Textile Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is being implemented through a combination of EU-level legislation and national schemes, resulting in important differences in scope, timelines and operational requirements across regions.

For businesses operating internationally, understanding these regional variations is essential. While the overall direction is consistent, shifting responsibility for textile waste to producers, the practical application of EPR differs significantly by country, requiring a coordinated, multi-market compliance strategy.

Reconomy supports organisations by monitoring regional developments, interpreting regulatory requirements and delivering compliance solutions that work across borders.

European Union: A harmonised framework with national implementation

At EU level, textile EPR is driven by the revised Waste Framework Directive and the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan. Together, these policies require all Member States to establish mandatory textile EPR schemes, with national legislation in place by 2027 and full operation shortly after.

While the EU sets the overarching framework and objectives, each Member State designs and operates its own national textile EPR system. This includes decisions on scope, fee structures, data requirements and Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) models.

From a policymaker perspective, the focus is on improving material flows, increasing reuse and recycling rates, and reducing textile waste. For producers, this means navigating multiple national schemes within a single regulatory framework, each with distinct operational requirements.

France, the Netherlands and early adopters

Several EU countries have already implemented textile EPR schemes, providing early insight into how national systems operate in practice.

France operates a mature national textile EPR system covering clothing, footwear and household textiles, with established PROs, eco-modulated fees and detailed reporting requirements.

The Netherlands has introduced a national textile EPR scheme with clear reuse and recycling targets, placing strong emphasis on producer accountability and transparency.

Other countries, including Hungary and Latvia, have also launched textile EPR systems, each with different approaches to scope, reporting and enforcement.

These early schemes highlight the importance of understanding regional scheme design, particularly for brands selling into multiple EU markets.

United Kingdom: Direction of travel and policy development

While the UK has not yet introduced a mandatory textile EPR scheme, policy development is underway. Textile waste is increasingly referenced in national waste strategies, and policymakers are actively assessing options aligned with wider EPR and circular economy reforms.

From a regulatory perspective, the UK is closely monitoring EU developments and international best practice. For businesses, this reinforces the importance of preparing data systems and governance structures now, so they are ready to respond as UK textile EPR policy evolves.

Reconomy supports organisations by tracking UK policy signals and helping businesses future-proof their compliance strategies.

Beyond Europe: Global momentum for textile EPR

Textile EPR is gaining momentum beyond the EU. In North America, California is establishing the first mandatory textile EPR programme in the United States, requiring producers to join an approved stewardship organisation by 2026, with full implementation expected by 2030.

Other regions are exploring similar initiatives as governments respond to rising textile waste volumes and environmental impact. This signals a long-term global shift toward transparent, accountable and circular textile systems, particularly for large international brands.

What this means for multi-territory producers

The regional nature of textile EPR means that producers must manage different national schemes, reporting requirements and fee structures, even within a single region such as the EU.

Key challenges include tracking national legislative developments and consultations, registering with the correct PROs in each market, managing different data, reporting and payment requirements, and aligning internal systems to support multiple regulatory approaches.

Reconomy helps organisations address this complexity through a unified, global approach to textile EPR compliance.