EU Bans Large Companies from Destroying Unsold Clothing and Footwear

Large businesses operating in the European Union are no longer permitted to destroy unsold clothing and footwear, under new EU regulations now in effect. The rules are designed to combat the widespread practice of incinerating or landfilling excess stock — a common but environmentally harmful industry habit — and to push companies toward more sustainable alternatives such as recycling, donation, or resale. Exceptions to the ban apply in cases where goods are dangerous, damaged, or contaminated, as destroying such items may be necessary for safety or health reasons. The regulation is part of the EU's broader push toward a circular economy, in which products and materials are kept in use for as long as possible rather than being discarded.