EU Ban on Destroying Unsold Clothing and Footwear Comes Into Force

A ban on destroying unsold batches of clothing and footwear has come into effect across the European Union. Companies will now be allowed to dispose of such goods only if they are hazardous, damaged, counterfeit, or have been declined by charitable organizations.

The EU adopted the ban more than two years ago, and from 2030 it will also apply to medium-sized businesses — for now, the requirement primarily targets large companies.

According to estimates from the European Environment Agency (EEA), at the time the ban was approved, Europe was destroying between five and nine percent of textile goods intended for sale each year — roughly 264,000 to 594,000 tonnes of clothing and footwear.

The problem has been compounded in recent years by the rapid growth of online clothing retail: customers frequently try on ordered items and send them back. Available data suggests that around a fifth of all clothing bought online in the EU is returned to retailers and never makes it back onto shelves.

The fashion industry has traditionally justified destroying unsold goods by arguing that it is often cheaper than storing, repairing, or discounting them. Germany's Retail Federation (HDE) believes the new ban will benefit consumers by boosting the supply of discounted goods. However, the organization warns that the change will create serious difficulties for many retailers.

"Not every product can be easily resold or donated," said HDE director Stefan Genth. He pointed to high logistics costs, insufficient demand, and the low value of some goods, all of which make it harder to find them a second life.

Around Prague, based on reporting by ekolist.cz