Legal status: October 2026
Since July 2026, large companies may not destroy unsold clothes and shoes, returns included, and by April 2028 every EU country must set up a scheme in which producers pay for collecting and recycling textiles. Here are the dates that matter for fashion brands, with official sources.
The rules in the order they apply. For each one we say who it covers.
1 January 2025
Every EU country must collect textile waste separately. How it's organised, for example at municipal recycling centres or in containers, is up to each country.
Who it covers: Countries and municipalities. Brands have no new duty here, but producer fees (EPR) are set to help fund this collection.
From 2025
Large companies that discard unsold consumer products, not only clothing, publish the number and weight every year on their website, along with the reasons and what happened to them: preparing for re-use, recycling, recovery or disposal. The first figures cover the first full financial year starting after 18 July 2024, usually 2025.
Who it covers: Large enterprises, and medium-sized ones from 19 July 2030. Micro and small enterprises are exempt.
19 July 2026
Unsold apparel, clothing accessories and footwear may not be destroyed. This includes returns under the right of withdrawal, and recycling also counts as destruction. Exceptions, for example for unsafe, damaged or IP-infringing goods, are set out in Delegated Regulation 2026/296. Using one must be documented, and the records kept for 5 years.
Who it covers: Large businesses, including manufacturers, importers, distributors, dealers and fulfilment service providers. Micro and small enterprises are exempt.
27 September 2026
Generic terms like “eco-friendly” or “green” may not be used without demonstrating recognised excellent environmental performance, for example with the EU Ecolabel. Also banned: sustainability labels not based on a certification scheme or set up by public authorities, and claims that a product is climate-neutral thanks to offsetting.
Who it covers: Any business that addresses consumers. Countries apply the directive through their own laws, and some have done so late, so check the rules in each country where you sell. Misleading green claims can already be an unfair commercial practice under existing law.
Q4 2027 (indicative)
The European Commission plans to adopt ecodesign requirements for textiles together with a digital product passport. The date is indicative and may move, and obligations will only start from a date that act sets.
Who it covers: Producers of clothing and textiles sold in the EU. The scope and dates will be set by the delegated act.
17 April 2028
EU countries must transpose the directive by 17 June 2027 and, by 17 April 2028, run a scheme in which producers of clothing, accessories, footwear and household textiles pay for collection, sorting, preparing for re-use and recycling. Fees are meant to depend on product features such as durability and recyclability.
Who it covers: Companies that first make products available in a country, including online sellers based abroad. Micro-enterprises get an extra year. Each country sets its own fees and details.
19 July 2030
The ban on destroying unsold clothes and shoes and the duty to disclose discarded products extend to medium-sized enterprises.
Who it covers: Medium-sized enterprises. Micro and small enterprises remain exempt.
For each rule: what it asks, and where Relovely can help. Compliance stays with the brand; the platform gives you one more way to sell things instead of throwing them away.
19 July 2026
If your company is large (or medium-sized, from 2030), clothes and shoes you don't sell, returns included, can't be destroyed or sent for recycling unless an exception applies. What's left is selling, donating and preparing for re-use.
Where Relovely helps
On the same platform, next to your customers' listings, you can also run an outlet with returns, seconds and end-of-line stock. It's an extra sales channel on your brand's subdomain, for customers who already know the brand.
17 April 2028
If your company is the first to make products available in a country, you'll pay for the clothing and footwear once that country launches its EPR scheme. Fee levels aren't known yet.
Where Relovely helps
Relovely won't lower your EPR fees or handle registration. It helps your brand's items keep moving between customers for longer before they reach collection, and shows you how many changed hands.
27 September 2026
Claims like “an eco-friendly brand” are banned unless backed by recognised excellent environmental performance. Environmental claims are safest when they're specific and backed by evidence.
Where Relovely helps
The platform counts your brand's items that changed hands and the shop codes that came back from those sales. They're transaction figures, easy to document. Check with a lawyer how to use them in your communication.
Q4 2027 (indicative)
The textile product passport is only planned: the Commission's indicative date for adopting the act is Q4 2027, and obligations will follow later.
Where Relovely helps
Relovely already links listings to products in your catalogue, so their data and photos travel with the item to its next owner. Showing passport data in listings is planned for a later stage of the platform.
The platform gives your brand a second-hand channel and data about it. The legal duties stay with the brand.
We checked dates and statuses in the legal acts and on the websites of EU institutions and national authorities. Status: October 2026.
This page is information, not legal advice. Rules and dates can change, so check the current sources or ask a lawyer before you decide.
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