Textile EPR Explained: Essential FAQs
Overview
Textile EPR drives global sustainability efforts. Textiles EPR tackles textile waste and its environmental impact. As textile waste increases, EPR requires producers to manage textiles from production to disposal.
These FAQs cover Textile EPR basics, its importance, and countries adopting it. You’ll also learn about the EU’s proposed regulations and strategies for a sustainable, circular textiles industry.
Read the answers below to understand Textile EPR and its impact on your business.
What is EPR for Textiles?
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for textiles places the responsibility on the producers for the collection, sorting and entire life cycle of the textiles placed on the market. What’s more EPR provides ongoing and sufficient funding needed to cover the cost to support and manage all discarded textiles.
Why Textile EPR?
Every year, the EU creates 12.6 million tonnes of textile waste. Out of this total, 5.2 million tonnes come from discarded clothing and footwear, averaging around 12 kilograms of waste per individual annually. Products are not always designed for durability sometimes only worn once and can bedifficult to recycle. It is estimated that less than 1% of all textiles worldwide are recycled into new products. This waste problem is exacerbated by the textile industry’s significant CO2 emissions, estimated to be around 10% of global carbon emissions, making it one of the highest polluting sectors. This has a huge impact on the environment and EPR is a regulation to support the reduction.
What are textiles EPR PRO’s?
A textiles Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) is an entity designed to manage the environmental impacts of textile products.
Which Countries Have EPR for Textiles?
France was the pioneer in implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for textiles, introducing the regulation in 2008.
In the Netherlands, a new law took effect in July 2023, requiring producers to pay a fee for textiles introduced to the Dutch market. Producers registered and reported in 2023 but didn’t pay fees. In 2024 producers will pay a small fee to facilitate the implementation of the infrastructure associated with the regulation and with the full implementation expected by 2025.
Latvia also updated its regulations in March 2023, mandating that producers cover the costs associated with the collection, processing, and recycling of textile waste. This will be through a fee paid to the government known as the Natural Resource Tax.
Additionally, proposed changes to the EU Waste Directive could lead to the mandatory adoption of Textiles EPR across all EU countries by 2025 with an 18 month implementation period.
What is the EPR for Textile Decree / What is the EU Textile EPR Directive?
Right now, there isn’t a single EU-wide waste directive for textiles, but some countries have implemented their own textile waste legislations. In July 2023, a proposal to update the EU Waste Framework Directive to tackle textile waste was released. By March 2024, the European Parliament had adopted its initial position on this update.
The proposal suggests introducing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes for textiles and footwear across the EU, with fees adjusted based on eco-friendliness of materials. These schemes must be in place 18 months after the directive is approved. Additionally, member states will need to set up separate collections for textiles to be reused or recycled by January 1, 2025.
What is the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles strategy?
Europe is advancing textile Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) through key legislative updates in the Waste Framework Directive (WFD) and the Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP). The WFD mandates all EU Member States establish separate textile waste collection systems by January 1, 2025, requiring municipalities to divert textiles from general waste. While this collection mandate has a fixed start date, EPR implementation remains pending, with draft legislation allowing an 18-month lead time after adoption, though the exact start date is undecided.
The CEAP supports this transition with eco-design requirements and digital product passports to track environmental impact. This is vital as the EU textile sector ranks third in water and land use pressure and fifth in greenhouse gas emissions.
The Sustainable and Circular Textiles Strategy aims to transform the industry by 2030, focusing on durable, recyclable, and eco-friendly textiles, many from recycled materials. Stricter design regulations will ensure textiles are free of harmful chemicals, long-lasting, and recyclable. Consumers will gain access to affordable, durable products, shifting away from fast fashion, along with expanded reuse and repair services, all underpinned by initiatives to promote sustainable consumption and reduce textile waste.
Who Does Textiles EPR Apply to?
Generally, the obligated stakeholders or ‘producers’ are the first entities to introduce textile products into the market. This includes manufacturers and importers within the country, as well as suppliers from abroad. The obligation applies whether the products are sold to other companies for resale, directly to end users such as consumers or businesses, or through e‑commerce platforms that sell into the country. However, requirements can vary by country, adding complexity to determining whether you are obligated to comply with local regulations.
What Items Does Textiles EPR Apply to?
The items that fall within the scope of textiles EPR can vary depending on the specific country regulations but generally include the following categories:
- Clothing – Consumer clothing and workwear, including uniforms and safety outfits
- Household Textiles – Table linen, bedding, towels, and in some case curtains, drape and other household fabrics like cushion covers
- Footwear – Although excluded in some countries, in some cases regulations may include footwear (such as in France and Netherlands)
What Does Textiles EPR Mean for Your Organization?
If you are a producer selling textile products in countries with Textile Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations implemented, you must adhere to each country’s specific obligations. This includes meeting reporting requirements and managing the waste of your textile products. You can fulfil these obligations through a compliance scheme. Additionally, it is important to be proactive in preparing for potential updates to the EU Waste Directive, which may soon include textiles. Being ahead of these changes will help ensure you remain compliant with evolving regulations.
How Can RLG Help Your Organization?
Discover the full range of services offered through Reconomy’s ReDress program, tailored to help businesses manage the complexities of textiles Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). With our specialized expertise, we provide solutions customized to meet your unique needs.
Our services include:
Horizon Scanning:
Stay ahead of the curve with our international compliance team, delivering insights on environmental legislation to help you navigate the evolving global regulatory landscape and mitigate risks effectively.
Data Management:
Leverage data for smarter decision-making in a complex regulatory environment. Our advanced data management and state-of-the-art tools streamline compliance reporting, boosting efficiency.
International Compliance:
Whether guiding you through the entire compliance process or providing targeted support at critical stages, our global Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) operation simplifies your compliance efforts.
How do I comply for textiles EPR?
Each country or region will set specific deadlines for registering, reporting, and paying fees. Producers must stay informed about these deadlines to avoid penalties. Once the EPR system is in place, the first step for producers is to register with a PRO. The registration process usually involves providing information about the types of products sold, and the volume of textiles placed on the market.
After registration, producers need to report annually on the quantities of textiles placed on the market and how producers manage post-consumer textile waste. These reports typically include details on recycling, take-back programs, and efforts to reduce environmental impact.
EPR schemes require producers to pay fees based on the volume of textiles they place on the market, often adjusted by eco-modulation. These fees help fund waste management and recycling systems.
What is textile EPR fees?
Textile EPR fees are payments made by producers to fund the collection, sorting, recycling, and disposal of textile products at their end-of-life. These fees are typically calculated based on various factors, including the amount and type of textiles a company puts on the market. The goal is to internalise the environmental costs of textile waste management into the business model of the companies that produce or sell textiles. The specific textile EPR fees can vary by country or jurisdiction and are often based on several criteria including weight of the textile products, type of textile material, eco-design initiatives, product categories, PRO costs.
What is the textile EPR reporting requirements?
Textile EPR reporting requirements are obligations placed on producers of textiles to regularly report data about the products they put on the market, their waste management efforts, and compliance with EPR regulations. These reports help ensure transparency, accountability, and proper management of post-consumer textile waste.
The specific reporting requirements can vary depending on the country, but they generally include several key elements including quantities of textiles placed on the market, material type, end-of-live management data, waste treatment processes, participation in take-back schemes, fee payment and eco-modulation.
Reporting requirements are typically annual. Companies must adhere to strict deadlines for submitting their reports, as late submissions may result in penalties or additional fines.
When do I need to comply for textiles EPR?
Compliance deadlines for textiles EPR depends on the specific country or region where the regulations are being implemented. These deadlines can vary based on when the laws are introduced, and the timeline set by local authorities for companies to meet their obligations.
What is textile take-backs?
Textile take-backs are programs or systems designed to encourage the return of used, unwanted, or discarded textile products (such as clothing, household linens, and fabrics) for recycling, repurposing, or responsible disposal. This is often implemented through the placement of containers in retail stores, particularly in high-traffic areas, to increase visibility. These programs are often part of EPR schemes or corporate sustainability initiatives to reduce textile waste, extend product life cycles, and promote a circular economy.
What is the textile EPR repair legislation?
The textile EPR repair legislation refers to laws and regulations aimed at incorporating repair obligations within the EPR framework for textiles. This approach requires producers to take responsibility not only for the end-of-life management of their products but also for promoting and facilitating the repair and maintenance of textile goods during their lifespan.
What is textile eco-modulation?
Textile eco-modulation refers to the practice of adjusting the fees that producers pay under EPR schemes based on the environmental impact of their products. In the textile industry, eco-modulation incentivises companies to design, produce, and sell more sustainable textiles by modulating (increasing or decreasing) the fees they pay according to specific environmental criteria.
Conclusion
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for textiles addresses the growing issue of textile waste by making producers accountable for their products. EPR promotes sustainability by encouraging eco-friendly materials, designs, and responsible disposal, helping reduce environmental harm. As more countries adopt EPR regulations, businesses will need to align with circular production practices to meet compliance standards.
RLG, with its global reach and local expertise across more than 80 countries, is well-positioned to support you in navigating these changes. By offering customized, innovative solutions, RLG empowers businesses to meet their sustainability goals and comply with EPR regulations. Through impactful programs like textile take-backs, RLG helps companies reduce waste, extend product life cycles, and contribute to a circular economy.
