European Waste Management Association (FEAD) along with European Recycling Industries’ Confederation (EuRIC Textiles) and Decathlon have jointly published a paper to advocate the need for enhanced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes in the upcoming revision of the EU Waste Framework Directive (WFD). This initiative aims to address challenges in textile waste management while promoting sustainability and competitiveness across the sector,

Setting basic waste management concepts, the WFD defines waste, recycling, and recovery, and outlines the transition of waste into secondary raw materials. From January 2025, EU member states will be mandated to collect textiles separately, making EPR an essential tool for achieving the directive’s objectives. The ongoing WFD revision presents an opportunity to harmonise practices across the EU, enabling better sector efficiency and environmental outcomes.

The joint paper recommends the WFD to ensure accountability and fair competition in EPR programs across all actors. Further, it advocates the directive to establish measurable targets for waste prevention, collection, reuse and recycle. It also aims to clarify data to differentiate ‘used’ textiles from waste and define end-of-waste parameters to streamline recycling and material repurposing.

Besides, the joint paper also stresses the need for swift action to address current challenges, such as geopolitical instability, logistical barriers, and the influx of ultra-fast fashion, which has led to oversupply and financial strain on waste management systems.

Emphasising on the urgency for textile recycling, Claudia Mensi, President, FEAD, notes, 1 per cent of the 5 million metric tons of clothing discarded annually in the EU is recycled into new garments. Julia Ettinger, Secretary General, EuRIC Textiles urges for scaling up textile recycling infrastructure to realise circularity. Meanwhile, Emilie Mauffet, Sustainability Director, Decathlon highlights the potential of well-designed EPR schemes to close the loop on textile waste.

This collaborative effort aims to transform textile waste management, fostering a circular economy while supporting Europe’s recycling infrastructure and environmental goals. With the WFD revision, the EU has a vital opportunity to establish innovative, efficient textile waste systems that benefit industry and the planet.