31/07/2026
💚 Europe has just changed the fashion industry forever.
Starting July 19, 2026, the European Union officially banned large fashion companies from destroying unsold clothes, shoes, and accessories.
Instead of sending perfectly good products to landfills or burning them, companies must now donate, recycle, or repurpose them.
The new rules apply to businesses with more than 250 employees and annual revenue above €50 million, with medium-sized companies expected to follow from 2030. Only unsafe, counterfeit, or damaged products are exempt.
Companies will also have to publish annual reports showing what happens to their unsold goods and keep detailed records for five years.
The change targets a huge environmental problem.
Every year, an estimated 264,000 to 594,000 tonnes of textiles are destroyed across the EU, while 4% to 9% of unsold fashion items are thrown away instead of being reused.
The goal is simple:
More clothes in charity shops.
More products on discount shelves.
Less waste in landfills.
It's a major step toward a circular fashion industry where clothing is made to last, repaired, reused, and recycled instead of being treated as disposable.
