Parliament Enacts New EU Rules to Combat Textile and Food Waste: What This Means for You and the Planet

New legislation is on the horizon, setting clear goals for reducing food waste across the EU. By December 31, 2030, countries must cut food waste by 10% from processing and manufacturing, and 30% per person from retail, restaurants, and households. These targets will be based on averages from 2021 to 2023. Each country will identify key players in food waste prevention and will need to ensure that these businesses safely donate unsold food.

Additionally, producers of textiles in the EU will need to bear the costs associated with collecting, sorting, and recycling their products. This will be managed through new producer responsibility schemes, which member states must set up within 30 months of the directive taking effect. This includes all producers, even those outside the EU that sell online. Smaller businesses will have an additional year to comply.

The new rules apply to various products, including clothing, accessories, home textiles, and even mattresses. Countries may also create extra rules to tackle the issues around ultra-fast and fast fashion when considering financial contributions to these schemes.

Notably, recent studies show that the fashion industry contributes significantly to global waste. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the fashion sector produces over 92 million tons of waste each year. Tackling fast fashion practices could lead to substantial improvements in waste management and sustainability.

Once finalized, this legislation will be signed by both EU co-legislators and published in the EU Official Journal. Member states will have 20 months to integrate these rules into their national laws.

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