Textiles: one step closer to mandatory EPR

On 18 March, the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) of the European Parliament officially adopted the trilogue agreement on the revision of the Waste Framework Directive (WFD).

This adoption confirms the consolidated text resulting from negotiations between the Parliament, Council and Commission and brings the EU one step closer to introducing mandatory extended producer responsibility (EPR) for textiles.

Textiles EPR

The revised Directive requires producers of textiles, textile-related and footwear products to finance the collection, sorting, re-use and recycling of their products, including unsold goods.

The revised law also establishes clear roles for producer responsibility organisations (PROs) and mandates public registers for producer compliance across Member States.

It recognises social enterprises as essential partners in collection and reuse, and introduces fee modulation to incentivise eco-design, circularity and reductions in microplastic pollution.

Other key aspects include collection targets, fibre-to-fibre recycling and local reuse, as well as stricter sorting and documentation requirements for exports to prevent illegal waste shipments.

Next steps

The Directive is expected to be tabled for Plenary vote in April, either during the mini-Plenary (10–11 April) or the main session (22–25 April).

This reform is a critical piece of the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan and Strategy for Sustainable Textiles, aiming to significantly increase textile sustainability and reduce environmental impacts throughout the value chain.

It is not only about recycling processes and compliance, it is also about networking. ERP shares knowledge, insights, and news so that together we can promote the sustainable agenda.