Textile EPR: What is to be expected?

Under the European Union, Member states are able to implement EPR for different streams, including Textiles, on a voluntary basis. This is about to change with the implementation of the most recent draft amendment of the Waste Framework Directive.

In the draft amendment of the Waste Framework Directive, all EU Member States are to implement an Extended Producer Responsibility for the textiles. Whilst there are currently 4 countries who have implemented EPR; The Netherlands, France, Hungary and Latvia, the other EU Member states are given 30 months to implement the textile EPR into the local legislation when the amendment becomes final.

Under the new Textile EPR, the following companies will have obligations:

• A brand owner who manufactures in a Member State;
• A reseller who manufactures in a Member State;
• An “importer” with a sales entity in the Member State;
• Distance seller who sells to end users in the member state.

In practice, more organizations are responsible for the Textile EPR than may come to mind. Producers who give out promotional goods or merchandise in form of T-shirts, sock, or sweaters are also bear the CLF EPR obligations!

Only a few companies are exempt in the amendment:

• Companies which employ fewer than 10 persons and with an annual turnover <€ 2,000,000
• Suppliers of used CLF products
• Self-employed tailers producing customized products