New Sustainability Rules for Fashion in Europe

Fashion brands in Europe may soon face stricter sustainability requirements.

The European Parliament has approved new rules that will make fashion brands—from luxury houses to online marketplaces—responsible for the cost of their fashion waste, including the collection, recycling, and sorting of textiles. These textiles cover a wide range of items: clothing, footwear, accessories, hats, blankets, curtains, and linens.

The rules will apply not only to EU-based brands but also to non-EU sellers, including global e-commerce platforms. This means that fast-fashion companies operating online will also need to comply.

Although the regulation still needs to be formally enacted into law, once passed, EU member states will be required to implement Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes for textiles within 30 months.

If implemented effectively, this law could accelerate the fashion industry’s move toward greater accountability, pushing brands to integrate waste management into their sustainable business models.

Source: https://www.thefashionlaw.com/europe-cracks-down-on-fashion-waste-with-fast-fashion-in-the-firing-line/