• The European Parliament approved, on September 9, 2025, a series of regulations aimed at significantly reducing food waste and textile waste in the member states of the European Union.
The new directives, to be implemented by the end of 2030, set ambitious goals to reduce environmental impact and promote a more sustainable economy.
The European Union generates around 60 million tonnes of food waste annually, equivalent to 132 kg per capita. To tackle this problem, the new rules require member states to reduce food waste by 10% in the food processing and production sector and by 30% per capita in sectors such as retail, HoReCa (hotels, restaurants, catering) and households. These targets will be assessed based on the average waste generated between 2021 and 2023.
A key aspect of the new measures is to encourage the donation of unsold but safe food. Member States will be responsible for identifying economic operators with a significant role in generating or preventing food waste and obliging them to facilitate the donation of products to organisations that redistribute them.
Regulations for the textile sector
In addition to measures on food waste, the European Union is introducing new rules for the management of textile waste, a sector that produces 12,6 million tonnes of waste annually, of which 5,2 million tonnes come from clothing and footwear (around 12 kg per person). In this context, textile producers will be obliged to bear the costs of collecting, sorting and recycling their products, through extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes. These schemes will be implemented within 30 months of the entry into force of the directive and will also target online traders, regardless of whether they are based in the EU or outside it.
The new regulations apply to a wide range of textile products, such as clothing, accessories, footwear, blankets, bed and kitchen linen and curtains. In addition, at the proposal of the European Parliament, Member States can extend EPR schemes to mattress manufacturers. Micro-enterprises will benefit from an additional period of one year to comply with these requirements.
An important point of the directive concerns practices in the fast and ultra-fast fashion industry, which contribute significantly to the accumulation of textile waste. Member States are encouraged to impose additional financial contributions on producers in these sectors, depending on their environmental impact. Currently, less than 1% of textiles globally are recycled into new products, which underlines the urgency of adopting effective measures.
A new step towards a circular economy
The adoption of these regulations marks an important step towards a circular economy, where resources are used responsibly and waste is minimised. The new rules, which have already received the agreement of the Council of the European Union this summer, are to be implemented gradually, giving Member States and manufacturers the necessary time to adapt.
These measures reflect the European Union's commitment to addressing sustainability challenges and promoting an economic model that protects the environment without compromising the quality of life of citizens. By reducing food and textile waste, the EU is strengthening its leadership in the fight against climate change and pollution.
Article source: Parliament adopts new EU rules to reduce textile and food waste
Article written by Gabriela Dan, Editor-in-Chief Arta Albă
Read on White Art and: Reducing food waste - the law republished in the Official Gazette
