Fashion: from 19 July, it will be illegal to destroy unsold clothing
The European Commission, through EU Regulation 2024/1781, has introduced two significant changes: the first is the obligation for businesses to publish information on the volumes of unsold consumer goods disposed of as waste. The second is a ban on the destruction of unsold consumer goods
From today, 19 July 2026, large companies in the textile sector will no longer be allowed to destroy unsold or returned clothing, shoes or accessories, and will be required to encourage the reuse, recycling and donation of such products, giving them a new lease of life.
Assoutenti points this out, emphasising that the new measures will initially affect large companies, and from 2030, medium-sized enterprises as well.
The European Commission, through EU Regulation 2024/1781, has in fact introduced two important new measures:
- the first is the obligation for businesses to publish information on the volumes of unsold consumer goods disposed of as waste;
- the second is a ban on the destruction of unsold consumer goods.
These products include clothing and fashion accessories, footwear, hats, headwear and other hair accessories. Exceptions to the ban on destruction are provided for products that are hazardous, non-compliant, in breach of intellectual property rights, unsuitable for reuse, or damaged, deteriorated or defective.
“In Europe, up to 9 per cent of all textile products placed on the market are destroyed before use, amounting to a total of up to 594,000 tonnes of textiles per year, generating CO₂ emissions of 5.6 million tonnes,” explains President Gabriele Melluso – “The average return rate for clothes bought online is estimated at 20 per cent, meaning one in five items sold online is returned.”
