The past few years have seen unprecedented legislative activity for the textile, apparel and footwear sectors in Europe. Major files have been adopted or proposed – defining how products placed on the EU market must be designed, labelled, traced and disposed of. Now the hard work begins: implementation. For brands, suppliers, manufacturers, recyclers and service providers, this means turning regulatory direction into operational reality: from digital data flows, unsold stock protocols, to extended producer responsibility, traceability and consumer-facing information.
Beyond implementation, several key files are still being negotiated – including the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D), the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the Green Claims Directive (GCD) and the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) - others are still to be published, such as the revision of the Textile Labelling Regulation, the Circular Economy Act, the Environmental Omnibus Regulation, or the Bioeconomy Strategy. Meanwhile, the core legislative framework for textiles is already in motion, and key dates are fast approaching.
Below is an overview of the very latest state of play and what is coming in the next months. Please bear in mind that all the dates and potential timeline for implementation reflect the most updated information we have as of early November 2025.
The ESPR is the backbone of the EU’s approach to product sustainability, and apparel textiles are the first product group for which ecodesign will become a market-entry requirement. After the Regulation entered into force in July 2024, the focus has shifted to implementation through delegated and implementing acts that will operationalise its main elements for the textile sector.
The Textiles Delegated Act will be the central piece of secondary legislation under the ESPR for this sector. It will set specific ecodesign requirements for textile products - addressing aspects such as durability, repairability, recycled content and recyclability. In practice, it will determine which textiles can be placed on the EU market and under what conditions.
Expected in mid to late 2027, this act will set the specific ecodesign requirements for textile products – potentially covering areas such as durability, repairability, recyclability and recycled content. It is likely to become applicable around 2029, after which only compliant products will be able to be placed on the EU market. It will also determine the information to be included in each product’s Digital Product Passport (DPP) – see below.
The DPP will act as a digital identity accompanying products throughout their life cycle, carrying product sustainability information and enabling traceability. It will connect designers, manufacturers, recyclers and even consumers through a shared layer of product data. The system is taking shape in stages:
ESPR also tackles the destruction of unsold goods. From July 2025, companies need to report publicly on the number and weight of discarded goods the reasons for doing so, and the waste treatment operations they undergo. To ensure consistency among different companies’ disclosures, the Commission is set to publish in the Official Journal of the EU an Implementing Act specifying the format for disclosure of information in Q4 2025. It should apply as of Q4 2026, and the format itself will become mandatory for products discarded from the first full financial year after its application - if your financial year starts in January, the format for you applies as of January 2027.
From 19 July 2026, the prohibition on the destruction of unsold textiles and footwear becomes applicable for textile products.. Before that, in late 2025/early 2026, a Delegated Act will be officially published the limited exemptions to the upcoming ban.
The revised WFD marks the EU’s first binding framework for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes for textiles - meaning that, for the first time, producers will be responsible for what happens to their products at end-of-life. The Directive formally entered into force on 16 October 2026, setting in motion a sequence of transposition steps over the following years:
The ECGT Directive, which entered into force on 27 March 2024, amends the EU’s long-standing consumer-protection framework. Member States must transpose the Directive by 27 March 2026, and the new rules will apply from 27 September 2026. From that point, generic or unsubstantiated terms such as “eco-friendly”, “carbon-neutral” or “green” will no longer be acceptable unless they are backed by clear, recognised evidence.
The directive also introduces new requirements for information on product durability and legal guarantees. An Implementing Act adopted in September 2025 defined the exact design and format of an EU label showing product durability and of a standardised notice on consumer rights under legal guarantees. Both instruments will become mandatory when the new rules start to apply in September 2026.
Complementary to the ECGT is the Green Claims Directive (GCD). It aims to establish a common EU methodology for verifying environmental claims and labels, so that when a company says a product is “climate-neutral”, that claim is backed by measurable data and independently verified. Negotiations on the Directive are currently paused due to debates over the burdens for companies. However, the initiative remains on the Commission’s legislative agenda, although the timeline for its adoption and subsequent application is uncertain.
Adopted at the end of 2024, the FLR introduces an EU-wide ban on placing or making available products made with forced labour on the Union market – as well as exporting them from the EU. It applies to all, including the textile, apparel and footwear sectors. The Regulation entered into force in December 2024. Following a transposition period, it will become applicable on 14 December 2027.
By 14 June 2026, the Commission will publish the central EU database with information on forced labour risks in specific geographic areas or product groups. By the same date, the Commission must publish implementation guidelines, covering areas such as due diligence expectations proportionate, risk indicators, and best practices.
Even as key files move into implementation, the legislative landscape for textiles remains in flux. Several major frameworks – including the EUDR, CS3D and CSRD – are under revision to simplify requirements and revise scope, timelines, and reporting requirements. The outcomes of these discussions are expected in late 2025 or early 2026.
The Textile Labelling Regulation, due in April 2026, will revise the existing rules on mandatory labelling – from fibre composition and country of origin to the presentation of care, size and other essential product information. It will also examine how digital labelling formats can complement physical tags and interact with the DPP under the ESPR.
Finally, the Circular Economy Act (foreseen for Q3 2026) and the Environmental Omnibus Regulation (expected at the end of 2025 or early 2026) are both likely to amend or consolidate existing environmental legislation and could introduce elements of EU-wide EPR harmonisation relevant to textile waste.
The past few years have seen unprecedented legislative activity for the textile, apparel and footwear sectors in Europe. Major files have been adopted or proposed – defining how products placed on the EU market must be designed, labelled, traced and disposed of. Now the hard work begins: implementation. For brands, suppliers, manufacturers, recyclers and service providers, this means turning regulatory direction into operational reality: from digital data flows, unsold stock protocols, to extended producer responsibility, traceability and consumer-facing information.
Beyond implementation, several key files are still being negotiated – including the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D), the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the Green Claims Directive (GCD) and the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) - others are still to be published, such as the revision of the Textile Labelling Regulation, the Circular Economy Act, the Environmental Omnibus Regulation, or the Bioeconomy Strategy. Meanwhile, the core legislative framework for textiles is already in motion, and key dates are fast approaching.
Below is an overview of the very latest state of play and what is coming in the next months. Please bear in mind that all the dates and potential timeline for implementation reflect the most updated information we have as of early November 2025.
The ESPR is the backbone of the EU’s approach to product sustainability, and apparel textiles are the first product group for which ecodesign will become a market-entry requirement. After the Regulation entered into force in July 2024, the focus has shifted to implementation through delegated and implementing acts that will operationalise its main elements for the textile sector.
The Textiles Delegated Act will be the central piece of secondary legislation under the ESPR for this sector. It will set specific ecodesign requirements for textile products - addressing aspects such as durability, repairability, recycled content and recyclability. In practice, it will determine which textiles can be placed on the EU market and under what conditions.
Expected in mid to late 2027, this act will set the specific ecodesign requirements for textile products – potentially covering areas such as durability, repairability, recyclability and recycled content. It is likely to become applicable around 2029, after which only compliant products will be able to be placed on the EU market. It will also determine the information to be included in each product’s Digital Product Passport (DPP) – see below.
The DPP will act as a digital identity accompanying products throughout their life cycle, carrying product sustainability information and enabling traceability. It will connect designers, manufacturers, recyclers and even consumers through a shared layer of product data. The system is taking shape in stages:
ESPR also tackles the destruction of unsold goods. From July 2025, companies need to report publicly on the number and weight of discarded goods the reasons for doing so, and the waste treatment operations they undergo. To ensure consistency among different companies’ disclosures, the Commission is set to publish in the Official Journal of the EU an Implementing Act specifying the format for disclosure of information in Q4 2025. It should apply as of Q4 2026, and the format itself will become mandatory for products discarded from the first full financial year after its application - if your financial year starts in January, the format for you applies as of January 2027.
From 19 July 2026, the prohibition on the destruction of unsold textiles and footwear becomes applicable for textile products.. Before that, in late 2025/early 2026, a Delegated Act will be officially published the limited exemptions to the upcoming ban.
The revised WFD marks the EU’s first binding framework for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes for textiles - meaning that, for the first time, producers will be responsible for what happens to their products at end-of-life. The Directive formally entered into force on 16 October 2026, setting in motion a sequence of transposition steps over the following years:
The ECGT Directive, which entered into force on 27 March 2024, amends the EU’s long-standing consumer-protection framework. Member States must transpose the Directive by 27 March 2026, and the new rules will apply from 27 September 2026. From that point, generic or unsubstantiated terms such as “eco-friendly”, “carbon-neutral” or “green” will no longer be acceptable unless they are backed by clear, recognised evidence.
The directive also introduces new requirements for information on product durability and legal guarantees. An Implementing Act adopted in September 2025 defined the exact design and format of an EU label showing product durability and of a standardised notice on consumer rights under legal guarantees. Both instruments will become mandatory when the new rules start to apply in September 2026.
Complementary to the ECGT is the Green Claims Directive (GCD). It aims to establish a common EU methodology for verifying environmental claims and labels, so that when a company says a product is “climate-neutral”, that claim is backed by measurable data and independently verified. Negotiations on the Directive are currently paused due to debates over the burdens for companies. However, the initiative remains on the Commission’s legislative agenda, although the timeline for its adoption and subsequent application is uncertain.
Adopted at the end of 2024, the FLR introduces an EU-wide ban on placing or making available products made with forced labour on the Union market – as well as exporting them from the EU. It applies to all, including the textile, apparel and footwear sectors. The Regulation entered into force in December 2024. Following a transposition period, it will become applicable on 14 December 2027.
By 14 June 2026, the Commission will publish the central EU database with information on forced labour risks in specific geographic areas or product groups. By the same date, the Commission must publish implementation guidelines, covering areas such as due diligence expectations proportionate, risk indicators, and best practices.
Even as key files move into implementation, the legislative landscape for textiles remains in flux. Several major frameworks – including the EUDR, CS3D and CSRD – are under revision to simplify requirements and revise scope, timelines, and reporting requirements. The outcomes of these discussions are expected in late 2025 or early 2026.
The Textile Labelling Regulation, due in April 2026, will revise the existing rules on mandatory labelling – from fibre composition and country of origin to the presentation of care, size and other essential product information. It will also examine how digital labelling formats can complement physical tags and interact with the DPP under the ESPR.
Finally, the Circular Economy Act (foreseen for Q3 2026) and the Environmental Omnibus Regulation (expected at the end of 2025 or early 2026) are both likely to amend or consolidate existing environmental legislation and could introduce elements of EU-wide EPR harmonisation relevant to textile waste.
The past few years have seen unprecedented legislative activity for the textile, apparel and footwear sectors in Europe. Major files have been adopted or proposed – defining how products placed on the EU market must be designed, labelled, traced and disposed of. Now the hard work begins: implementation. For brands, suppliers, manufacturers, recyclers and service providers, this means turning regulatory direction into operational reality: from digital data flows, unsold stock protocols, to extended producer responsibility, traceability and consumer-facing information.
Beyond implementation, several key files are still being negotiated – including the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D), the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the Green Claims Directive (GCD) and the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) - others are still to be published, such as the revision of the Textile Labelling Regulation, the Circular Economy Act, the Environmental Omnibus Regulation, or the Bioeconomy Strategy. Meanwhile, the core legislative framework for textiles is already in motion, and key dates are fast approaching.
Below is an overview of the very latest state of play and what is coming in the next months. Please bear in mind that all the dates and potential timeline for implementation reflect the most updated information we have as of early November 2025.
The ESPR is the backbone of the EU’s approach to product sustainability, and apparel textiles are the first product group for which ecodesign will become a market-entry requirement. After the Regulation entered into force in July 2024, the focus has shifted to implementation through delegated and implementing acts that will operationalise its main elements for the textile sector.
The Textiles Delegated Act will be the central piece of secondary legislation under the ESPR for this sector. It will set specific ecodesign requirements for textile products - addressing aspects such as durability, repairability, recycled content and recyclability. In practice, it will determine which textiles can be placed on the EU market and under what conditions.
Expected in mid to late 2027, this act will set the specific ecodesign requirements for textile products – potentially covering areas such as durability, repairability, recyclability and recycled content. It is likely to become applicable around 2029, after which only compliant products will be able to be placed on the EU market. It will also determine the information to be included in each product’s Digital Product Passport (DPP) – see below.
The DPP will act as a digital identity accompanying products throughout their life cycle, carrying product sustainability information and enabling traceability. It will connect designers, manufacturers, recyclers and even consumers through a shared layer of product data. The system is taking shape in stages:
ESPR also tackles the destruction of unsold goods. From July 2025, companies need to report publicly on the number and weight of discarded goods the reasons for doing so, and the waste treatment operations they undergo. To ensure consistency among different companies’ disclosures, the Commission is set to publish in the Official Journal of the EU an Implementing Act specifying the format for disclosure of information in Q4 2025. It should apply as of Q4 2026, and the format itself will become mandatory for products discarded from the first full financial year after its application - if your financial year starts in January, the format for you applies as of January 2027.
From 19 July 2026, the prohibition on the destruction of unsold textiles and footwear becomes applicable for textile products.. Before that, in late 2025/early 2026, a Delegated Act will be officially published the limited exemptions to the upcoming ban.
The revised WFD marks the EU’s first binding framework for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes for textiles - meaning that, for the first time, producers will be responsible for what happens to their products at end-of-life. The Directive formally entered into force on 16 October 2026, setting in motion a sequence of transposition steps over the following years:
The ECGT Directive, which entered into force on 27 March 2024, amends the EU’s long-standing consumer-protection framework. Member States must transpose the Directive by 27 March 2026, and the new rules will apply from 27 September 2026. From that point, generic or unsubstantiated terms such as “eco-friendly”, “carbon-neutral” or “green” will no longer be acceptable unless they are backed by clear, recognised evidence.
The directive also introduces new requirements for information on product durability and legal guarantees. An Implementing Act adopted in September 2025 defined the exact design and format of an EU label showing product durability and of a standardised notice on consumer rights under legal guarantees. Both instruments will become mandatory when the new rules start to apply in September 2026.
Complementary to the ECGT is the Green Claims Directive (GCD). It aims to establish a common EU methodology for verifying environmental claims and labels, so that when a company says a product is “climate-neutral”, that claim is backed by measurable data and independently verified. Negotiations on the Directive are currently paused due to debates over the burdens for companies. However, the initiative remains on the Commission’s legislative agenda, although the timeline for its adoption and subsequent application is uncertain.
Adopted at the end of 2024, the FLR introduces an EU-wide ban on placing or making available products made with forced labour on the Union market – as well as exporting them from the EU. It applies to all, including the textile, apparel and footwear sectors. The Regulation entered into force in December 2024. Following a transposition period, it will become applicable on 14 December 2027.
By 14 June 2026, the Commission will publish the central EU database with information on forced labour risks in specific geographic areas or product groups. By the same date, the Commission must publish implementation guidelines, covering areas such as due diligence expectations proportionate, risk indicators, and best practices.
Even as key files move into implementation, the legislative landscape for textiles remains in flux. Several major frameworks – including the EUDR, CS3D and CSRD – are under revision to simplify requirements and revise scope, timelines, and reporting requirements. The outcomes of these discussions are expected in late 2025 or early 2026.
The Textile Labelling Regulation, due in April 2026, will revise the existing rules on mandatory labelling – from fibre composition and country of origin to the presentation of care, size and other essential product information. It will also examine how digital labelling formats can complement physical tags and interact with the DPP under the ESPR.
Finally, the Circular Economy Act (foreseen for Q3 2026) and the Environmental Omnibus Regulation (expected at the end of 2025 or early 2026) are both likely to amend or consolidate existing environmental legislation and could introduce elements of EU-wide EPR harmonisation relevant to textile waste.
The past few years have seen unprecedented legislative activity for the textile, apparel and footwear sectors in Europe. Major files have been adopted or proposed – defining how products placed on the EU market must be designed, labelled, traced and disposed of. Now the hard work begins: implementation. For brands, suppliers, manufacturers, recyclers and service providers, this means turning regulatory direction into operational reality: from digital data flows, unsold stock protocols, to extended producer responsibility, traceability and consumer-facing information.
Beyond implementation, several key files are still being negotiated – including the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D), the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the Green Claims Directive (GCD) and the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) - others are still to be published, such as the revision of the Textile Labelling Regulation, the Circular Economy Act, the Environmental Omnibus Regulation, or the Bioeconomy Strategy. Meanwhile, the core legislative framework for textiles is already in motion, and key dates are fast approaching.
Below is an overview of the very latest state of play and what is coming in the next months. Please bear in mind that all the dates and potential timeline for implementation reflect the most updated information we have as of early November 2025.
The ESPR is the backbone of the EU’s approach to product sustainability, and apparel textiles are the first product group for which ecodesign will become a market-entry requirement. After the Regulation entered into force in July 2024, the focus has shifted to implementation through delegated and implementing acts that will operationalise its main elements for the textile sector.
The Textiles Delegated Act will be the central piece of secondary legislation under the ESPR for this sector. It will set specific ecodesign requirements for textile products - addressing aspects such as durability, repairability, recycled content and recyclability. In practice, it will determine which textiles can be placed on the EU market and under what conditions.
Expected in mid to late 2027, this act will set the specific ecodesign requirements for textile products – potentially covering areas such as durability, repairability, recyclability and recycled content. It is likely to become applicable around 2029, after which only compliant products will be able to be placed on the EU market. It will also determine the information to be included in each product’s Digital Product Passport (DPP) – see below.
The DPP will act as a digital identity accompanying products throughout their life cycle, carrying product sustainability information and enabling traceability. It will connect designers, manufacturers, recyclers and even consumers through a shared layer of product data. The system is taking shape in stages:
ESPR also tackles the destruction of unsold goods. From July 2025, companies need to report publicly on the number and weight of discarded goods the reasons for doing so, and the waste treatment operations they undergo. To ensure consistency among different companies’ disclosures, the Commission is set to publish in the Official Journal of the EU an Implementing Act specifying the format for disclosure of information in Q4 2025. It should apply as of Q4 2026, and the format itself will become mandatory for products discarded from the first full financial year after its application - if your financial year starts in January, the format for you applies as of January 2027.
From 19 July 2026, the prohibition on the destruction of unsold textiles and footwear becomes applicable for textile products.. Before that, in late 2025/early 2026, a Delegated Act will be officially published the limited exemptions to the upcoming ban.
The revised WFD marks the EU’s first binding framework for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes for textiles - meaning that, for the first time, producers will be responsible for what happens to their products at end-of-life. The Directive formally entered into force on 16 October 2026, setting in motion a sequence of transposition steps over the following years:
The ECGT Directive, which entered into force on 27 March 2024, amends the EU’s long-standing consumer-protection framework. Member States must transpose the Directive by 27 March 2026, and the new rules will apply from 27 September 2026. From that point, generic or unsubstantiated terms such as “eco-friendly”, “carbon-neutral” or “green” will no longer be acceptable unless they are backed by clear, recognised evidence.
The directive also introduces new requirements for information on product durability and legal guarantees. An Implementing Act adopted in September 2025 defined the exact design and format of an EU label showing product durability and of a standardised notice on consumer rights under legal guarantees. Both instruments will become mandatory when the new rules start to apply in September 2026.
Complementary to the ECGT is the Green Claims Directive (GCD). It aims to establish a common EU methodology for verifying environmental claims and labels, so that when a company says a product is “climate-neutral”, that claim is backed by measurable data and independently verified. Negotiations on the Directive are currently paused due to debates over the burdens for companies. However, the initiative remains on the Commission’s legislative agenda, although the timeline for its adoption and subsequent application is uncertain.
Adopted at the end of 2024, the FLR introduces an EU-wide ban on placing or making available products made with forced labour on the Union market – as well as exporting them from the EU. It applies to all, including the textile, apparel and footwear sectors. The Regulation entered into force in December 2024. Following a transposition period, it will become applicable on 14 December 2027.
By 14 June 2026, the Commission will publish the central EU database with information on forced labour risks in specific geographic areas or product groups. By the same date, the Commission must publish implementation guidelines, covering areas such as due diligence expectations proportionate, risk indicators, and best practices.
Even as key files move into implementation, the legislative landscape for textiles remains in flux. Several major frameworks – including the EUDR, CS3D and CSRD – are under revision to simplify requirements and revise scope, timelines, and reporting requirements. The outcomes of these discussions are expected in late 2025 or early 2026.
The Textile Labelling Regulation, due in April 2026, will revise the existing rules on mandatory labelling – from fibre composition and country of origin to the presentation of care, size and other essential product information. It will also examine how digital labelling formats can complement physical tags and interact with the DPP under the ESPR.
Finally, the Circular Economy Act (foreseen for Q3 2026) and the Environmental Omnibus Regulation (expected at the end of 2025 or early 2026) are both likely to amend or consolidate existing environmental legislation and could introduce elements of EU-wide EPR harmonisation relevant to textile waste.
The past few years have seen unprecedented legislative activity for the textile, apparel and footwear sectors in Europe. Major files have been adopted or proposed – defining how products placed on the EU market must be designed, labelled, traced and disposed of. Now the hard work begins: implementation. For brands, suppliers, manufacturers, recyclers and service providers, this means turning regulatory direction into operational reality: from digital data flows, unsold stock protocols, to extended producer responsibility, traceability and consumer-facing information.
Beyond implementation, several key files are still being negotiated – including the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D), the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the Green Claims Directive (GCD) and the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) - others are still to be published, such as the revision of the Textile Labelling Regulation, the Circular Economy Act, the Environmental Omnibus Regulation, or the Bioeconomy Strategy. Meanwhile, the core legislative framework for textiles is already in motion, and key dates are fast approaching.
Below is an overview of the very latest state of play and what is coming in the next months. Please bear in mind that all the dates and potential timeline for implementation reflect the most updated information we have as of early November 2025.
The ESPR is the backbone of the EU’s approach to product sustainability, and apparel textiles are the first product group for which ecodesign will become a market-entry requirement. After the Regulation entered into force in July 2024, the focus has shifted to implementation through delegated and implementing acts that will operationalise its main elements for the textile sector.
The Textiles Delegated Act will be the central piece of secondary legislation under the ESPR for this sector. It will set specific ecodesign requirements for textile products - addressing aspects such as durability, repairability, recycled content and recyclability. In practice, it will determine which textiles can be placed on the EU market and under what conditions.
Expected in mid to late 2027, this act will set the specific ecodesign requirements for textile products – potentially covering areas such as durability, repairability, recyclability and recycled content. It is likely to become applicable around 2029, after which only compliant products will be able to be placed on the EU market. It will also determine the information to be included in each product’s Digital Product Passport (DPP) – see below.
The DPP will act as a digital identity accompanying products throughout their life cycle, carrying product sustainability information and enabling traceability. It will connect designers, manufacturers, recyclers and even consumers through a shared layer of product data. The system is taking shape in stages:
ESPR also tackles the destruction of unsold goods. From July 2025, companies need to report publicly on the number and weight of discarded goods the reasons for doing so, and the waste treatment operations they undergo. To ensure consistency among different companies’ disclosures, the Commission is set to publish in the Official Journal of the EU an Implementing Act specifying the format for disclosure of information in Q4 2025. It should apply as of Q4 2026, and the format itself will become mandatory for products discarded from the first full financial year after its application - if your financial year starts in January, the format for you applies as of January 2027.
From 19 July 2026, the prohibition on the destruction of unsold textiles and footwear becomes applicable for textile products.. Before that, in late 2025/early 2026, a Delegated Act will be officially published the limited exemptions to the upcoming ban.
The revised WFD marks the EU’s first binding framework for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes for textiles - meaning that, for the first time, producers will be responsible for what happens to their products at end-of-life. The Directive formally entered into force on 16 October 2026, setting in motion a sequence of transposition steps over the following years:
The ECGT Directive, which entered into force on 27 March 2024, amends the EU’s long-standing consumer-protection framework. Member States must transpose the Directive by 27 March 2026, and the new rules will apply from 27 September 2026. From that point, generic or unsubstantiated terms such as “eco-friendly”, “carbon-neutral” or “green” will no longer be acceptable unless they are backed by clear, recognised evidence.
The directive also introduces new requirements for information on product durability and legal guarantees. An Implementing Act adopted in September 2025 defined the exact design and format of an EU label showing product durability and of a standardised notice on consumer rights under legal guarantees. Both instruments will become mandatory when the new rules start to apply in September 2026.
Complementary to the ECGT is the Green Claims Directive (GCD). It aims to establish a common EU methodology for verifying environmental claims and labels, so that when a company says a product is “climate-neutral”, that claim is backed by measurable data and independently verified. Negotiations on the Directive are currently paused due to debates over the burdens for companies. However, the initiative remains on the Commission’s legislative agenda, although the timeline for its adoption and subsequent application is uncertain.
Adopted at the end of 2024, the FLR introduces an EU-wide ban on placing or making available products made with forced labour on the Union market – as well as exporting them from the EU. It applies to all, including the textile, apparel and footwear sectors. The Regulation entered into force in December 2024. Following a transposition period, it will become applicable on 14 December 2027.
By 14 June 2026, the Commission will publish the central EU database with information on forced labour risks in specific geographic areas or product groups. By the same date, the Commission must publish implementation guidelines, covering areas such as due diligence expectations proportionate, risk indicators, and best practices.
Even as key files move into implementation, the legislative landscape for textiles remains in flux. Several major frameworks – including the EUDR, CS3D and CSRD – are under revision to simplify requirements and revise scope, timelines, and reporting requirements. The outcomes of these discussions are expected in late 2025 or early 2026.
The Textile Labelling Regulation, due in April 2026, will revise the existing rules on mandatory labelling – from fibre composition and country of origin to the presentation of care, size and other essential product information. It will also examine how digital labelling formats can complement physical tags and interact with the DPP under the ESPR.
Finally, the Circular Economy Act (foreseen for Q3 2026) and the Environmental Omnibus Regulation (expected at the end of 2025 or early 2026) are both likely to amend or consolidate existing environmental legislation and could introduce elements of EU-wide EPR harmonisation relevant to textile waste.
The past few years have seen unprecedented legislative activity for the textile, apparel and footwear sectors in Europe. Major files have been adopted or proposed – defining how products placed on the EU market must be designed, labelled, traced and disposed of. Now the hard work begins: implementation. For brands, suppliers, manufacturers, recyclers and service providers, this means turning regulatory direction into operational reality: from digital data flows, unsold stock protocols, to extended producer responsibility, traceability and consumer-facing information.
Beyond implementation, several key files are still being negotiated – including the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D), the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the Green Claims Directive (GCD) and the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) - others are still to be published, such as the revision of the Textile Labelling Regulation, the Circular Economy Act, the Environmental Omnibus Regulation, or the Bioeconomy Strategy. Meanwhile, the core legislative framework for textiles is already in motion, and key dates are fast approaching.
Below is an overview of the very latest state of play and what is coming in the next months. Please bear in mind that all the dates and potential timeline for implementation reflect the most updated information we have as of early November 2025.
The ESPR is the backbone of the EU’s approach to product sustainability, and apparel textiles are the first product group for which ecodesign will become a market-entry requirement. After the Regulation entered into force in July 2024, the focus has shifted to implementation through delegated and implementing acts that will operationalise its main elements for the textile sector.
The Textiles Delegated Act will be the central piece of secondary legislation under the ESPR for this sector. It will set specific ecodesign requirements for textile products - addressing aspects such as durability, repairability, recycled content and recyclability. In practice, it will determine which textiles can be placed on the EU market and under what conditions.
Expected in mid to late 2027, this act will set the specific ecodesign requirements for textile products – potentially covering areas such as durability, repairability, recyclability and recycled content. It is likely to become applicable around 2029, after which only compliant products will be able to be placed on the EU market. It will also determine the information to be included in each product’s Digital Product Passport (DPP) – see below.
The DPP will act as a digital identity accompanying products throughout their life cycle, carrying product sustainability information and enabling traceability. It will connect designers, manufacturers, recyclers and even consumers through a shared layer of product data. The system is taking shape in stages:
ESPR also tackles the destruction of unsold goods. From July 2025, companies need to report publicly on the number and weight of discarded goods the reasons for doing so, and the waste treatment operations they undergo. To ensure consistency among different companies’ disclosures, the Commission is set to publish in the Official Journal of the EU an Implementing Act specifying the format for disclosure of information in Q4 2025. It should apply as of Q4 2026, and the format itself will become mandatory for products discarded from the first full financial year after its application - if your financial year starts in January, the format for you applies as of January 2027.
From 19 July 2026, the prohibition on the destruction of unsold textiles and footwear becomes applicable for textile products.. Before that, in late 2025/early 2026, a Delegated Act will be officially published the limited exemptions to the upcoming ban.
The revised WFD marks the EU’s first binding framework for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes for textiles - meaning that, for the first time, producers will be responsible for what happens to their products at end-of-life. The Directive formally entered into force on 16 October 2026, setting in motion a sequence of transposition steps over the following years:
The ECGT Directive, which entered into force on 27 March 2024, amends the EU’s long-standing consumer-protection framework. Member States must transpose the Directive by 27 March 2026, and the new rules will apply from 27 September 2026. From that point, generic or unsubstantiated terms such as “eco-friendly”, “carbon-neutral” or “green” will no longer be acceptable unless they are backed by clear, recognised evidence.
The directive also introduces new requirements for information on product durability and legal guarantees. An Implementing Act adopted in September 2025 defined the exact design and format of an EU label showing product durability and of a standardised notice on consumer rights under legal guarantees. Both instruments will become mandatory when the new rules start to apply in September 2026.
Complementary to the ECGT is the Green Claims Directive (GCD). It aims to establish a common EU methodology for verifying environmental claims and labels, so that when a company says a product is “climate-neutral”, that claim is backed by measurable data and independently verified. Negotiations on the Directive are currently paused due to debates over the burdens for companies. However, the initiative remains on the Commission’s legislative agenda, although the timeline for its adoption and subsequent application is uncertain.
Adopted at the end of 2024, the FLR introduces an EU-wide ban on placing or making available products made with forced labour on the Union market – as well as exporting them from the EU. It applies to all, including the textile, apparel and footwear sectors. The Regulation entered into force in December 2024. Following a transposition period, it will become applicable on 14 December 2027.
By 14 June 2026, the Commission will publish the central EU database with information on forced labour risks in specific geographic areas or product groups. By the same date, the Commission must publish implementation guidelines, covering areas such as due diligence expectations proportionate, risk indicators, and best practices.
Even as key files move into implementation, the legislative landscape for textiles remains in flux. Several major frameworks – including the EUDR, CS3D and CSRD – are under revision to simplify requirements and revise scope, timelines, and reporting requirements. The outcomes of these discussions are expected in late 2025 or early 2026.
The Textile Labelling Regulation, due in April 2026, will revise the existing rules on mandatory labelling – from fibre composition and country of origin to the presentation of care, size and other essential product information. It will also examine how digital labelling formats can complement physical tags and interact with the DPP under the ESPR.
Finally, the Circular Economy Act (foreseen for Q3 2026) and the Environmental Omnibus Regulation (expected at the end of 2025 or early 2026) are both likely to amend or consolidate existing environmental legislation and could introduce elements of EU-wide EPR harmonisation relevant to textile waste.
The past few years have seen unprecedented legislative activity for the textile, apparel and footwear sectors in Europe. Major files have been adopted or proposed – defining how products placed on the EU market must be designed, labelled, traced and disposed of. Now the hard work begins: implementation. For brands, suppliers, manufacturers, recyclers and service providers, this means turning regulatory direction into operational reality: from digital data flows, unsold stock protocols, to extended producer responsibility, traceability and consumer-facing information.
Beyond implementation, several key files are still being negotiated – including the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D), the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the Green Claims Directive (GCD) and the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) - others are still to be published, such as the revision of the Textile Labelling Regulation, the Circular Economy Act, the Environmental Omnibus Regulation, or the Bioeconomy Strategy. Meanwhile, the core legislative framework for textiles is already in motion, and key dates are fast approaching.
Below is an overview of the very latest state of play and what is coming in the next months. Please bear in mind that all the dates and potential timeline for implementation reflect the most updated information we have as of early November 2025.
The ESPR is the backbone of the EU’s approach to product sustainability, and apparel textiles are the first product group for which ecodesign will become a market-entry requirement. After the Regulation entered into force in July 2024, the focus has shifted to implementation through delegated and implementing acts that will operationalise its main elements for the textile sector.
The Textiles Delegated Act will be the central piece of secondary legislation under the ESPR for this sector. It will set specific ecodesign requirements for textile products - addressing aspects such as durability, repairability, recycled content and recyclability. In practice, it will determine which textiles can be placed on the EU market and under what conditions.
Expected in mid to late 2027, this act will set the specific ecodesign requirements for textile products – potentially covering areas such as durability, repairability, recyclability and recycled content. It is likely to become applicable around 2029, after which only compliant products will be able to be placed on the EU market. It will also determine the information to be included in each product’s Digital Product Passport (DPP) – see below.
The DPP will act as a digital identity accompanying products throughout their life cycle, carrying product sustainability information and enabling traceability. It will connect designers, manufacturers, recyclers and even consumers through a shared layer of product data. The system is taking shape in stages:
ESPR also tackles the destruction of unsold goods. From July 2025, companies need to report publicly on the number and weight of discarded goods the reasons for doing so, and the waste treatment operations they undergo. To ensure consistency among different companies’ disclosures, the Commission is set to publish in the Official Journal of the EU an Implementing Act specifying the format for disclosure of information in Q4 2025. It should apply as of Q4 2026, and the format itself will become mandatory for products discarded from the first full financial year after its application - if your financial year starts in January, the format for you applies as of January 2027.
From 19 July 2026, the prohibition on the destruction of unsold textiles and footwear becomes applicable for textile products.. Before that, in late 2025/early 2026, a Delegated Act will be officially published the limited exemptions to the upcoming ban.
The revised WFD marks the EU’s first binding framework for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes for textiles - meaning that, for the first time, producers will be responsible for what happens to their products at end-of-life. The Directive formally entered into force on 16 October 2026, setting in motion a sequence of transposition steps over the following years:
The ECGT Directive, which entered into force on 27 March 2024, amends the EU’s long-standing consumer-protection framework. Member States must transpose the Directive by 27 March 2026, and the new rules will apply from 27 September 2026. From that point, generic or unsubstantiated terms such as “eco-friendly”, “carbon-neutral” or “green” will no longer be acceptable unless they are backed by clear, recognised evidence.
The directive also introduces new requirements for information on product durability and legal guarantees. An Implementing Act adopted in September 2025 defined the exact design and format of an EU label showing product durability and of a standardised notice on consumer rights under legal guarantees. Both instruments will become mandatory when the new rules start to apply in September 2026.
Complementary to the ECGT is the Green Claims Directive (GCD). It aims to establish a common EU methodology for verifying environmental claims and labels, so that when a company says a product is “climate-neutral”, that claim is backed by measurable data and independently verified. Negotiations on the Directive are currently paused due to debates over the burdens for companies. However, the initiative remains on the Commission’s legislative agenda, although the timeline for its adoption and subsequent application is uncertain.
Adopted at the end of 2024, the FLR introduces an EU-wide ban on placing or making available products made with forced labour on the Union market – as well as exporting them from the EU. It applies to all, including the textile, apparel and footwear sectors. The Regulation entered into force in December 2024. Following a transposition period, it will become applicable on 14 December 2027.
By 14 June 2026, the Commission will publish the central EU database with information on forced labour risks in specific geographic areas or product groups. By the same date, the Commission must publish implementation guidelines, covering areas such as due diligence expectations proportionate, risk indicators, and best practices.
Even as key files move into implementation, the legislative landscape for textiles remains in flux. Several major frameworks – including the EUDR, CS3D and CSRD – are under revision to simplify requirements and revise scope, timelines, and reporting requirements. The outcomes of these discussions are expected in late 2025 or early 2026.
The Textile Labelling Regulation, due in April 2026, will revise the existing rules on mandatory labelling – from fibre composition and country of origin to the presentation of care, size and other essential product information. It will also examine how digital labelling formats can complement physical tags and interact with the DPP under the ESPR.
Finally, the Circular Economy Act (foreseen for Q3 2026) and the Environmental Omnibus Regulation (expected at the end of 2025 or early 2026) are both likely to amend or consolidate existing environmental legislation and could introduce elements of EU-wide EPR harmonisation relevant to textile waste.
The past few years have seen unprecedented legislative activity for the textile, apparel and footwear sectors in Europe. Major files have been adopted or proposed – defining how products placed on the EU market must be designed, labelled, traced and disposed of. Now the hard work begins: implementation. For brands, suppliers, manufacturers, recyclers and service providers, this means turning regulatory direction into operational reality: from digital data flows, unsold stock protocols, to extended producer responsibility, traceability and consumer-facing information.
Beyond implementation, several key files are still being negotiated – including the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D), the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the Green Claims Directive (GCD) and the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) - others are still to be published, such as the revision of the Textile Labelling Regulation, the Circular Economy Act, the Environmental Omnibus Regulation, or the Bioeconomy Strategy. Meanwhile, the core legislative framework for textiles is already in motion, and key dates are fast approaching.
Below is an overview of the very latest state of play and what is coming in the next months. Please bear in mind that all the dates and potential timeline for implementation reflect the most updated information we have as of early November 2025.
The ESPR is the backbone of the EU’s approach to product sustainability, and apparel textiles are the first product group for which ecodesign will become a market-entry requirement. After the Regulation entered into force in July 2024, the focus has shifted to implementation through delegated and implementing acts that will operationalise its main elements for the textile sector.
The Textiles Delegated Act will be the central piece of secondary legislation under the ESPR for this sector. It will set specific ecodesign requirements for textile products - addressing aspects such as durability, repairability, recycled content and recyclability. In practice, it will determine which textiles can be placed on the EU market and under what conditions.
Expected in mid to late 2027, this act will set the specific ecodesign requirements for textile products – potentially covering areas such as durability, repairability, recyclability and recycled content. It is likely to become applicable around 2029, after which only compliant products will be able to be placed on the EU market. It will also determine the information to be included in each product’s Digital Product Passport (DPP) – see below.
The DPP will act as a digital identity accompanying products throughout their life cycle, carrying product sustainability information and enabling traceability. It will connect designers, manufacturers, recyclers and even consumers through a shared layer of product data. The system is taking shape in stages:
ESPR also tackles the destruction of unsold goods. From July 2025, companies need to report publicly on the number and weight of discarded goods the reasons for doing so, and the waste treatment operations they undergo. To ensure consistency among different companies’ disclosures, the Commission is set to publish in the Official Journal of the EU an Implementing Act specifying the format for disclosure of information in Q4 2025. It should apply as of Q4 2026, and the format itself will become mandatory for products discarded from the first full financial year after its application - if your financial year starts in January, the format for you applies as of January 2027.
From 19 July 2026, the prohibition on the destruction of unsold textiles and footwear becomes applicable for textile products.. Before that, in late 2025/early 2026, a Delegated Act will be officially published the limited exemptions to the upcoming ban.
The revised WFD marks the EU’s first binding framework for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes for textiles - meaning that, for the first time, producers will be responsible for what happens to their products at end-of-life. The Directive formally entered into force on 16 October 2026, setting in motion a sequence of transposition steps over the following years:
The ECGT Directive, which entered into force on 27 March 2024, amends the EU’s long-standing consumer-protection framework. Member States must transpose the Directive by 27 March 2026, and the new rules will apply from 27 September 2026. From that point, generic or unsubstantiated terms such as “eco-friendly”, “carbon-neutral” or “green” will no longer be acceptable unless they are backed by clear, recognised evidence.
The directive also introduces new requirements for information on product durability and legal guarantees. An Implementing Act adopted in September 2025 defined the exact design and format of an EU label showing product durability and of a standardised notice on consumer rights under legal guarantees. Both instruments will become mandatory when the new rules start to apply in September 2026.
Complementary to the ECGT is the Green Claims Directive (GCD). It aims to establish a common EU methodology for verifying environmental claims and labels, so that when a company says a product is “climate-neutral”, that claim is backed by measurable data and independently verified. Negotiations on the Directive are currently paused due to debates over the burdens for companies. However, the initiative remains on the Commission’s legislative agenda, although the timeline for its adoption and subsequent application is uncertain.
Adopted at the end of 2024, the FLR introduces an EU-wide ban on placing or making available products made with forced labour on the Union market – as well as exporting them from the EU. It applies to all, including the textile, apparel and footwear sectors. The Regulation entered into force in December 2024. Following a transposition period, it will become applicable on 14 December 2027.
By 14 June 2026, the Commission will publish the central EU database with information on forced labour risks in specific geographic areas or product groups. By the same date, the Commission must publish implementation guidelines, covering areas such as due diligence expectations proportionate, risk indicators, and best practices.
Even as key files move into implementation, the legislative landscape for textiles remains in flux. Several major frameworks – including the EUDR, CS3D and CSRD – are under revision to simplify requirements and revise scope, timelines, and reporting requirements. The outcomes of these discussions are expected in late 2025 or early 2026.
The Textile Labelling Regulation, due in April 2026, will revise the existing rules on mandatory labelling – from fibre composition and country of origin to the presentation of care, size and other essential product information. It will also examine how digital labelling formats can complement physical tags and interact with the DPP under the ESPR.
Finally, the Circular Economy Act (foreseen for Q3 2026) and the Environmental Omnibus Regulation (expected at the end of 2025 or early 2026) are both likely to amend or consolidate existing environmental legislation and could introduce elements of EU-wide EPR harmonisation relevant to textile waste.
