A Turning Point for Textile Waste Management: EPR Coming March 2026
The new EU regulation
The long-awaited moment has arrived. After three years of anticipation, the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework for the textile and fashion sector is set to come into force by March 2026. This new EU regulation will make producers accountable for the collection, recycling, and end-of-life management of garments placed on the market.
The timeline was announced by Laura D’Aprile, Director of the Department for Ecological Transition at the Italian Ministry of the Environment, during the Venice Sustainable Fashion Forum 2025, held on 23–24 October on the Island of San Giorgio and organized by Confindustria Moda, The European House Ambrosetti, and Confindustria Veneto Est.
According to D’Aprile, “the draft regulation has already been shared with industry associations and coordinated with the Ministry for Business. It is now undergoing final review by the legislative offices.”
She also highlighted a central challenge: today, only 12% of textiles placed on the market are collected at end of life. “We must develop a stronger collection network that aligns with the needs of the recycling and reuse supply chain.”
A clear, stable, and fully operational regulatory framework is considered essential to ensure efficient management of textile waste and to strengthen Italy’s leadership in sustainable textile production. However, this framework must be finalized swiftly to enable the sector to move forward effectively.
Within a European context that is setting increasingly ambitious environmental targets, and in a highly competitive international landscape, the absence of defined national rules has so far slowed the development of new collection and recycling systems in Italy. This delay has also affected the competitiveness of Italian companies compared to countries where EPR schemes are already in place.
Industry stakeholders have therefore reiterated the importance of publishing the textile EPR decree without further delay. A timely release is crucial for planning investments, innovating processes, adopting best practices in traceability and transparency, and ultimately aligning with the EU’s broader circular economy objectives.
At B/SAMPLY, we believe that digitalization plays a key role in supporting the industry’s transition toward more transparent, traceable, and sustainable supply chains. By enabling brands and suppliers to centralize product data, certifications, and material information, our platform helps companies prepare for upcoming regulatory requirements, while driving efficiency and accountability across the entire value chain.
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