Beyond Textiles: A Roadmap of EU Circular Economy Policies Across Sectors
The circular economy has become one of the defining pillars of EU environmental policy. At its core lies a simple idea: products, components and materials should remain in use for as long as possible and retain their value throughout their lifecycle. Over the past decade, the European Union has translated this principle into a growing […]
Unsold Goods Rules: What the Final EU Rules Really Mean for Apparel Brands (and Why Compliance Can’t Wait)
When the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) was adopted in July 2024, one provision captured particular political and media attention: the ban on the destruction of unsold goods. At the time, the ambition seemed clear. The EU wanted to put an end to the practice of destroying new, unsold consumer products, especially clothing and […]
Environmental Omnibus Explained: Limited Simplification Today, Bigger Changes Tomorrow
In recent years, EU sustainability and environmental policy has continued to expand in scope and ambition. This increasingly fruitful environmental agenda has also prompted heavy pushback during the current Commission mandate. With ten omnibus proposals already published and three more expected, “simplification” has become a recurring buzzword throughout the Brussels policy landscape. For many producers […]
The EU Circular Economy Act Explained: Context, Content and Next Steps
The European Union is preparing to take the next step in its circular economy journey with the launch of the Circular Economy Act (CEA). Currently under consultation, the Act will correct gaps in previous EU circularity and waste legislation, to better drive circularity across EU markets. If you are interested in understanding how the CEA […]
Waste Framework Directive Revision: the Impacts on Textiles & the Questions Left Unanswered
After many delays, the EU Waste Framework Directive (WFD) is now close to formal adoption (expected in the autumn of 2025), and businesses in the EU food, textile and footwear sectors must prepare for a regulatory overhaul that will reshape how they think about a product’s end-of-life. The Directive brings producer accountability to the core […]
Decoding the New EU Waste Shipment Regulation
After several delays, the EU Waste Shipment Regulation (WSR) revision was finally approved, entering into force in late May. Despite the two-year window before they can start being enforced, the new rules included in this update represent a much-needed step towards more effectively addressing the local and global environmental impact of EU waste shipments. The […]
EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR): An Overview of the Final Text
Packaging has long been viewed primarily through the lenses of cost and efficiency in transportation. But times are changing. The EU is ushering in a new era with its Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), a framework aimed at reshaping how packaging is used, reused, and recycled. Adopted by the EU Parliament on April 24, […]
Interview With Compreli Part 2: Making EU Legislation Accessible for Non-EU Textile Players
The impacts of upcoming EU sustainability policy will be felt far beyond the block’s borders, but many non-EU textile organisations have no clarity about the changes on the horizon, and what they will mean for the future of their businesses. In this second part of our interview with Ramesh De Silva, co-founder of Compreli Consulting, […]
EU EPR: What an Analysis of EPRs in France and the Netherlands Tells Us About the Proposed EU-wide Rules
The recent publication of the amendment proposal to the EU Waste Framework Directive (WFD) has once again placed the subject of textile Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes under the spotlight in Brussels. Environmentalists and industry stakeholders across the block agree that although the proposal does offer a general idea of the EU’s vision for EPRs, […]
The Gaps In the Waste Framework Directive & the Challenges of Textile Waste: An Interview with Melanie Hackler
The EU Waste Framework Directive (WFD) revision has been highly anticipated by stakeholders across the board. However, the proposal published in early July has left many with more questions than answers about the future of waste management in the EU; at least in practical terms. For the second article in our Sustainability & Waste blog […]