The European Parliament is expected to soon approve the updated EU waste legislation aimed at reducing textile waste. The new rules introduce extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes, which will require manufacturers to fund and manage the collection, sorting, reuse, and recycling of waste textiles.

This reform follows a deal reached between Parliament and the Council earlier this year. The Council has already adopted its position, and the Parliament's endorsement will clear the way for the new legislation to be published in the EU Official Journal.

According to the European Commission, the EU generates 12.6 million tons of textile waste annually. Clothing and footwear alone account for 5.2 million tons, which is equivalent to about 26 pounds per person each year. Despite this, less than 1 per cent of textiles worldwide are recycled into new products, which highlights the significant scale of the problem.

This revised legislation is part of the EU's broader effort to promote circularity and sustainability in the textile sector, which has been identified as one of the four largest sources of environmental pressure globally.