Circular Threads: How EPR Will Transform Europe’s Textile Industry
by Catherine Alford at 15:20 in Circular Economy, Emerging, Environmental
On 16 October 2025, Directive (EU) 2025/1892 amending Directive 2008/98/EC on Waste entered into force. The targeted revision of the Waste Framework Directive mandates the creation of EPR for textile and footwear products across EU Member States. The scope of EPR includes textile products, articles of apparel and clothing accessories for household or other use, as well as footwear.
Manufacturers, importers and distributors of these products will be obligated to participate in the new EPR systems. To create the EPR systems, Member States will be required to set up a register of producers and a PRO to allow producers to comply via a PRO membership if they wish.
Member States will also be required to modulate EPR fees on the basis of ecodesign requirements.
Current Textiles EPR Climate in the EU
Member States are currently in various stages of introducing textile EPR, with some further ahead than others:
France already has an existing system with eco-modulated EPR fees. This has been in place since 2007. Producers must report annually for clothing, household linen and footwear. The PRO in place is Refashion.
The Netherlands textile EPR came into force on 1 July 2023 for consumer clothing and household textiles. Producers are obligated to register to the national authority Rijkswaterstaat and report each ear before 1 August.
Greece has framework legislation for textiles EPR established in 2021. This legislation permits the introduction of a PRO to manage the obligations.
Italy introduced a draft textiles EPR bill in April of this year. This proposed legislation would create a textiles producer register, with producers having to register 120 days after the law's publication. In scope textiles would be clothing, footwear, accessories, leather goods, mattresses and textiles intended for household use.
What's next?
Member States that have not already established textiles EPR must have transposed the Directive into law by 17 June 2027. In addition to this, EPR systems should be fully established by 17 April 2028. Therefore, we can expect to see a lot of legislative proposals for textiles EPR in 2026. For more information on upcoming obligations contact Lorax EPI.
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