Revised EU Waste Framework Directive Enters into Force to Promote Textile Circularity and Reduce Food Waste

On 16 October 2025, the European Union’s targeted revision of the Waste Framework Directive officially came into force, setting new common rules to enhance sustainability in the textile sector and enforce binding food waste reduction targets across Member States. This legislative update aims to reduce environmental damage, foster circular economy practices, and strengthen the EU’s economic resilience and security.

Key Measures in the Revised Directive

1. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Textiles and Footwear

• Mandatory EPR schemes: All Member States must implement EPR frameworks where textile and footwear producers pay fees per product placed on the market.
• Eco-modulated fees: Fees are adjusted based on product sustainability criteria such as durability and recyclability, incentivizing eco-friendly design aligned with the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR).
• Use of fees: Fund collection, reuse, recycling operations, consumer awareness campaigns, and R&D efforts to improve circularity.
• Uniform waste classification: Separately collected textiles are uniformly classified as waste, requiring sorting before possible export, helping prevent illegal waste shipments.

2. Binding Food Waste Reduction Targets

• Goals by 2030: Member States must reduce food waste by 10% in processing/manufacturing and by 30% per capita at retail and consumption stages, including restaurants and households.
• Prevention programs: Adaptation of national food waste prevention strategies emphasizing behavioural change, awareness, technological innovation, and improved supply chain cooperation.
• Food donation facilitation: Businesses are required to propose food donation agreements to food banks and redistribution organizations.
• Monitoring and review: A comprehensive Commission review is scheduled for 2027 to assess progress, understand causes of food loss, and consider adjusting targets post-2030. —

Context and Impact

The textile and clothing sector is a major economic contributor in the EU, with €170 billion turnover and 1.3 million employees in 2023. However, it ranks high in environmental impacts, including water and land use, raw material consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions. Textile waste totaled approximately 12.6 million tonnes in 2019, yet only 20% was separately collected for reuse or recycling.

Food waste remains a critical concern with no significant reduction trends since 2020. The Directive’s reinforced measures support the EU’s Sustainable Development Goal target 12.3 and fit within the broader Circular Economy Action Plan and the Strategic Agenda for 2024-29. —

Implementation Timeline and Next Steps

• Transposition period: Member States have 20 months to integrate the revised Directive into national law.
• EPR implementation: 30 months to establish textile and footwear EPR schemes.
• Food waste prevention programs: Update and coordinate by 17 October 2027.
• Authority designation: Competent national authorities for food waste prevention must be appointed by 17 January 2026. Social economy enterprises involved in second-hand textile collection are exempt from EPR obligations, ensuring support for community-based recycling efforts.

Further Information and Resources

• Targeted revision of the Waste Framework Directive | EUR-Lex
• Waste Framework Directive | European Commission
• EU Textile Strategy
• Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation
• Food Waste Prevention | European Commission

The revised Waste Framework Directive marks a pivotal advancement towards a sustainable and circular economy in the EU, tackling urgent environmental challenges in textiles and food waste. Its success will depend on robust national implementation and ongoing innovation in sustainable production and consumption patterns.

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