As part of larger initiatives to improve the sustainability of goods sold in the EU market, the European Union is preparing to introduce legislation that will forbid the destruction of unsold textiles and footwear. The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, a new regulation, expands upon the Ecodesign Directive, which is now limited to products related to energy.
The goal of the amended law is to raise the energy efficiency, circularity, and general environmental sustainability of all goods—including apparel and footwear—that are brought onto the EU market. It will include information for almost all sorts of physical commodities and establish guidelines for ecodesign.
The new rule requires sustainable products to have better energy efficiency, decreased environmental impact, and/or increased circularity and recyclability over the course of their lifecycle. The legislation also forbids the burning of unsold footwear and textiles, and if required evidence is shown, it may expand such prohibitions to other industries.
Businesses will have to provide annual information, such as the quantity and weight of products thrown out as well as the reasons behind their disposal, on their websites.
