Overview
The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation includes a horizontal ban on destroying certain categories of unsold consumer products. Annex VII currently lists apparel, clothing accessories and footwear.
For large companies, the destruction ban has applied since 19 July 2026. Medium-sized companies follow on 19 July 2030; micro and small enterprises are outside the ESPR ban (though stricter national rules may still apply—especially in France under AGEC).
Disclosure obligations already apply to large enterprises. The Commission’s standardised reporting format for discarded unsold goods begins applying in February 2027. This entry isolates the unsold-goods measure that fashion inventory and outlet teams need to operationalise even before textile-specific ecodesign delegated acts arrive.
Key requirements
- Do not destroy unsold in-scope apparel and footwear once the ban applies to your company size (large enterprises: since 19 July 2026).
- Prefer reuse, remanufacturing, donation or recycling pathways consistent with the regulation and any national rules.
- Disclose information on discarded unsold consumer products as required for large enterprises.
- Check Member State overlays (e.g. France’s broader AGEC destruction ban).
Who’s affected
Large (then medium-sized) economic operators discarding unsold apparel, clothing accessories or footwear in the EU, including fashion brands, retailers and wholesalers.
Timeline
18 July 2024
ESPR enters into force.
19 July 2026
Destruction ban applies to large enterprises for Annex VII products.
February 2027
Commission standardised format for discarded-unsold-goods disclosure begins applying.
19 July 2030
Destruction ban extends to medium-sized enterprises.
How Carbon Trail helps
How Carbon Trail can help
- Map which products, markets and legal entities fall in scope.
- Structure product, supplier and emissions data needed for disclosures and EPR reporting.
- Track timelines, owners and evidence gaps across overlapping fashion regulations.
Frequently asked questions
Does recycling count as destruction?
ESPR definitions treat certain discarding operations as destruction; national guidance (e.g. France) may be stricter on hierarchy. Check both EU and Member State rules before choosing an end-of-life route.
