Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for textiles: What brands need to know

donderdag 11/09/25

What is EPR for textiles?

EPR makes producers – including brands, distributors, and importers – responsible for the entire lifecycle of their textile products, including collection, reuse, recycling, and waste management.

Why is the EU introducing this?

The aim is to shift the burden of textile waste from governments to brands, in order to:

Promote circular business models
Encourage better product design
Improve reuse and recycling infrastructure

Key deadlines

DEADLINE	WHAT HAPPENS	WHAT YOU NEED TO DO
Soon	Publication in the Official Journal	Kicks off national implementation countdown
Within 20 months	Countries must transpose into national law	Know the rules in every country you sell in
By April 2028	EPR schemes must be operational in all Member States	Registration, fees, reporting, etc. become mandatory

Micro-enterprises get an extra year for full compliance.

Separate textile waste collection is already mandatory from January 1, 2025 in many countries.

What concrete actions do brands need to take?

Register in each country where you place textiles on the market
Pay EPR fees, adjusted by product sustainability
Track and report volumes, materials, weights, etc.
Set up take-back or recycling logistics
Design more durable, repairable, recyclable products
Inform consumers clearly via labels and packaging
Join or create a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO)

What are the impacts for brands?

Higher costs (fees, logistics, eco-design, data systems…)
Administrative complexity across markets
Design pressure to reduce costs and increase recyclability
Opportunities for sustainable front-runners

Still unclear – what to monitor?

How fees will be calculated by country
Definitions of “fast fashion”, “durability”, “recyclability”
Rules for second-hand, unsold, or upcycled products
Cross-border and distance selling implications

What can you do now?

Map your portfolio (materials, durability, recyclability)
Identify markets and legal obligations
Budget for new costs
Begin design adaptations
Set up internal systems

In conclusion

Textile EPR is no longer optional. Early preparation reduces risks and costs, strengthens your brand, and keeps you ahead of regulation and consumer expectations.

Don’t wait. Start your EPR journey today.