Finally!
In September, the European Parliament adopted a groundbreaking directive introducing mandatory extended producer responsibility (EPR) for textiles and footwear across the EU. And now, in December, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency received a mandate from the government to propose how the rules should be enforced in Sweden.
Under the producer responsibility regulations, from 2028 onwards, textile producers will be responsible for covering the costs of collecting, sorting and recycling the products they supply to the EU market.den.
The products covered by the Directive are:
- Clothing and accessories (including leather)
- Blankets
- Bed linen, table linen, towels
- Curtains, roller blinds, drapes
- Second-hand clothes
- Hats and other headwear
- Shoes
The new rules aim to reduce textile waste and ensure that textiles and footwear are recycled sustainably. To transition the industry towards a circular economy, combat fast fashion and create better conditions for reuse and material recycling. And, in a way, perhaps most importantly: to clarify producers’ responsibility for the environmental impact caused by their products.
The objective is for the rules to apply to all textile manufacturers, to establish effective systems from waste collection through to reuse and recycling, and to promote sustainable product design with long lifespans, reparability, and efficient recycling.
Producer responsibility is something we and many others working on sustainability matters in the industry have discussed and looked forward to, so it’s great to see that the decision has finally been made!
So, what will happen now? Here are some key milestones for the implementation:
Nov 2026: The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency is to propose how producer responsibility should be implemented
June 2027: Member States must have incorporated the rules into national law
April 2028: Nation-wide systems must be in place, and the rules must come into force
April 2029: The rules will also apply to small businesses
We are excited to see what the new regulations will mean for the textile industry and, not least, for our beloved planet Earth.
Sources
Naturvårdsverket – Producer responsibility for textiles – upcoming rules 
Verdant Law – EU Adopts New Textile EPR Requirements
