BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European Union member states agreed on Monday to ban the destruction of unsold textiles, as part of the bloc’s green policy aimed at reducing waste by promoting reuse and recycling.
Governments and the European Parliament must first agree on regulations relating to ecodesign — which consists of integrating environmental protection into the design of goods or services — before it comes into force.
EU member states have agreed, however, that a ban on the destruction of unsold clothing should apply immediately, rather than waiting for the European Commission’s assessment which could have taken three years, as foreseen in the initial proposal. from March 2022.
Medium-sized companies, which employ less than 250 people, will benefit from a four-year transition period, while smaller companies, which employ less than 50 people, will be exempted.
A new “digital product passport” will also show a product’s environmental sustainability to help consumers make more informed choices when shopping.
The assembly has yet to define its position, which seems to be in favor of a ban on the destruction of unsold textiles and electronic devices. The report should be adopted in plenary before the summer.
The consumption of textiles represents the fourth source of environmental impact in Europe, after food, housing and transport. Around 5.8 million tonnes of textiles are thrown away every year in the EU, or around 11 kg per person, a large part of which is landfilled or burned.
(Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop, Dina Kartit, editing by Kate Entringer)
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