About this Episode
Every year, millions of brand-new clothes and shoes are never worn. Instead, many are burned, shredded or sent to landfill simply because they couldn’t be sold. That practice has now come to an end for many of Europe’s largest retailers.
From 19 July, the European Union has officially banned large companies from destroying unsold clothing, clothing accessories and footwear. Instead of treating perfectly usable products as waste, businesses are now expected to keep them in circulation through resale, donation, repair, remanufacturing or recycling. The measure is one of the first major actions under the EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, designed to make products more durable and support a circular economy.
The change addresses a surprisingly widespread problem. According to the European Environment Agency, between 4% and 9% of all textiles placed on the European market are destroyed before they are ever used—the equivalent of between 264,000 and 594,000 tonnes of clothing every year. Producing these garments consumes enormous amounts of water, energy and raw materials, only for many to be discarded without ever reaching a customer.
There are limited exceptions. Companies may still destroy products that are unsafe, counterfeit, irreparably damaged or rejected by donation organisations, but they must document and publicly report these cases. Medium-sized companies will have to comply from 2030, while small businesses are exempt.
The new rules are expected to encourage brands to produce more accurately, improve inventory management and give unsold products a second life instead of sending them to the incinerator.
It’s a reminder that sustainability isn’t always about making new things—sometimes it’s about making better use of what already exists.
