Instead of discarding stock, companies are encouraged to manage their stock more effectively, handle returns, and explore alternatives such as resale, remanufacturing, donations, or reuse.
The ban on destruction of unsold apparel, clothing accessories and footwear and the derogations will apply to large companies from 19 July 2026. Medium-sized companies are expected to follow in 2030. The rules on disclosure under the ESPR already apply to large companies and will also apply to medium-sized companies in 2030.
Clothing donations to poor countries destroys their own industry, why pay a local clothing manufacturer if Europe will send clothing for free?
Clothing donations can be great, but it is easy to use that as a mask for dumping unwanted clothing in other countries.
Sending it to “poor countries” (outside the EU) is more expensive than sending it to a local charity or just putting it on sale.