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EU bans apparel destruction for firms above size thresholds
The prohibition starts now for large companies selling into the EU and expands to medium-sized businesses by 2030, aiming to cut waste and related emissions, according to the European Commission.
The European Union has introduced a legal ban on destroying unsold clothing and other apparel for larger companies selling into the bloc, a move designed to reduce textile waste and curb the emissions associated with disposal, according to Yahoo Finance. Under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, any brand, wholesaler, or manufacturer with more than 250 employees and a turnover above 50 million euros selling into the EU is prohibited from destroying apparel, footwear, and accessories as of July 2026, with rules for medium-sized companies scheduled to take effect in 2030. The regulation was introduced to prevent usable goods and the resources used to make them, including raw materials, water, energy, and labor, from going to waste. The European Commission Directorate-General for Environment said the disposal of new, usable goods generates avoidable greenhouse gas emissions. The practice of mass destruction has been described as common in parts of the fashion industry, with the European Environment Agency estimating that about 4 to 9 percent of textile products placed on the European market are destroyed each year, totaling between 264,000 and 594,000 metric tons of material. Yahoo Finance also notes that some brands say they do not destroy wearable items, citing Puma's claim that it sells such products through outlet stores or donates them.