European Union countries have agreed to establish extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes for textiles.
The European Parliament and Council have reached a provisional agreement on new measures to prevent and reduce waste from food and textiles across the EU.
According to the deal, EU countries would have to establish EPR schemes that ensure producers that make textiles available in any EU country would have to cover the costs for their collection, sorting and recycling.
The new rules would cover products such as clothing and accessories, footwear, blankets, bed and kitchen linen, curtains, and hats.
At Parliament’s initiative, EU countries may also set up EPR schemes for the producers of mattresses.
Negotiators also agreed that member states should address ultra-fast fashion and fast fashion practices when setting out the financial contributions to the EPR schemes.
Producers would be required to pay fees under EPR 30 months after the entry into force of the directive. Micro-enterprises would need to comply with the EPR requirements 12 months later.
The provisions would apply to all producers, including any using e-commerce tools, and irrespective of whether they are established in an EU country or outside the EU.
Rapporteur Anna Zalewska (ECR, PL) commented: “During the final negotiations round, Parliament succeeded to secure provisions making sure that food waste and textiles waste as part of the municipal waste will be further reduced.
“We succeeded in ensuring feasible and realistic provisions for member states to implement food waste reduction policies and we managed to ensure that the agriculture sector will not be negatively impacted.”
Food waste reduction targets
Negotiators also agreed to introduce binding food waste reduction targets to be met at a national level by 31 December 2030.
The targets require EU nations to reduce food waste in food processing by 10% and by 30% per capita in retail, restaurants, food services and households.
The European Parliament said the targets would be calculated in comparison to the amount generated as an annual average between 2021 and 2023.
Following Parliament’s request, EU countries would have to take measures to ensure that economic operators which have a significant role in the prevention and generation of food waste facilitate the donation of unsold food.
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