The European Parliament and EU member states announced an agreement on Tuesday that will ban the destruction of unsold new clothing and strengthen the eco-design of many consumer goods so they can be repaired and recycled more easily.
• Also read: Recycling: Six innovations that could change the fashion industry
• Also read: “We’ve never seen this before!”: Disadvantaged children demand snowsuits and boots for Christmas
The new legislation proposed by the European Commission in March 2022 sets new requirements for the design of products to limit their impact on the environment, making them more reliable, reusable and repairable, but also easier to recycle and more efficiently used resources .
The concrete measures now include banning the destruction of unsold clothing and shoes. The measure will take effect two years after the law comes into effect. Medium-sized companies are granted a period of six years; small companies are exempt from this.
The Commission will have the power to extend this ban to other product categories.
In addition, every year large companies are required to disclose the amount of products thrown away and provide justifications to justify this practice in the hope of persuading them to abandon it.
In the area of eco-design, the Commission will set specific requirements for certain consumer products to promote the circular economy.
It clarified on Tuesday that it would give priority to “high-impact” products, particularly textiles, furniture (including mattresses), iron and steel, aluminum, tires and electronic products.
Motor vehicles are exempt from the new legislation as specific regulations already apply to them.
The text also introduces for clothing, as for a wide range of consumer goods, a “digital passport” in the form of a QR code that contains information that allows consumers and companies to recognize the impact of their purchases on the environment and thus to inform their decisions. In addition, information on traceability and the materials used is provided, making repair and recycling easier.
“It is time to put an end to the extract, produce, throw away model that is so damaging to our planet, our health and our economy,” commented Socialist MEP Alessandra Moretti, rapporteur of the text. “New products are designed to benefit everyone, respect our planet and protect the environment,” she said.
European employers welcomed Tuesday’s agreement but worried about new administrative constraints.
“The Ecodesign Regulation has the potential to create a strong market for circular products and accelerate the transition,” welcomed Markus Beyrer, Director General of BusinessEurope, but expressed concerns that “the information requirements are unfulfillable and are overwhelming companies.”
The text, which has been negotiated by EU lawmakers for several months, still needs to be officially approved by MEPs in plenary and by member states.