Under EPR, textile producers will be responsible for the full lifecycle of their products and will be required to financially support the sustainable management of textile waste across the globe where this legislation has been introduced. This will include costs associated with the collection, reuse preparation, recycling, recovery, and final disposal of textiles.
Currently, Textiles EPR legislation is only in force in a few European countries. However, with the EU continuing to push its circular economy action plan and the rest of the globe looking to increase sustainability and environmental viability, there are many countries with textiles EPR legislation on the horizon.
For more detailed information on countries where legislation is in place or impending and reporting requirements, get in touch to find out more about how we can support via our Textile Horizon Scanning service.
Current textile EPR legislation exists in the following countries:
In each of these countries, obligated producers are required to fulfil their EPR obligations, usually through joining a compliance scheme. Each of these countries have variations in scope, reporting requirements, and other applicable requirements but at their core share the same goal of reducing the waste generated by textiles and increasing the recycling of these waste materials.
EPR obligations in each of these EU countries also require producers to report figures on textile waste, pay EPR compliance fees to contribute to the management of this waste, and adhere to each member state’s varying legislation for consumer information, take back requirements, and other EPR related obligations.
Globally, textiles EPR has come to the forefront of many discussions around the introduction of EPR, with a majority of textile waste falling out of any existing reuse systems, actively harming the environment and contributing heavily to global pollution. This has resulted in proposed textiles EPR in Africa, Europe, North America, Oceania, and South America.
Whilst the proposed implementation varies in scope, timeline, and impact, each of these countries is aiming to implement textiles EPR to help establish a more circular economy for products and waste.
Below is an overview of the regions and countries where textiles EPR has been proposed in some form:
Staying ahead of evolving textile EPR regulations is important for affected businesses. Our International Compliance team is here to help you understand your obligations under existing and emerging legislation. Get in touch by emailing [email protected] for expert guidance and bespoke reports tailored to your company’s compliance needs.
We continuously monitor global regulatory developments. Our Textiles Horizon Scanning service provides businesses with the latest insights on upcoming textile EPR requirements, helping you stay prepared and compliant with future changes.