REGULATORY LANDSCAPE
As of Dec 2025
Stay informed on the evolving policies, regulations, and legislative trends influencing circularity, extended producer responsibility, and textile-to-textile systems around the world.
Overall, the global trend is towards greater responsibility for textile producers and increased efforts to reduce textile waste through recycling and reuse. The specific regulations vary across countries, but the overarching goal is to create a more sustainable and circular textile industry.
United States
As of December 2025, the US does not have any overarching federal regulations mandating textile recycling, reuse, or producer responsibility. However, several states and local governments have taken initiatives, and there's growing momentum towards more comprehensive legislation
State and Local Initiatives
Massachusetts Textile Waste Ban (2025)
Bans the disposal of most textiles in landfills and incinerators, requiring businesses and residents to find reuse and recycling options.
New York's Textile Reuse and Recycling Act
Requires certain clothing and textile product producers to establish collection and recycling programs.
California's SB 707 (2025)
Requires an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program for apparel and footwear, making producers responsible for end-of-life management.
Proposed Federal Legislation
The Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2023
Aims to establish a national EPR framework for textiles, holding producers accountable for recycling and reuse.
The Americas Act
Includes incentives for textile recycling and circularity within the broader context of reshoring manufacturing from China.
The FABRIC Act
Focuses on improving labor conditions in the garment industry but indirectly incentivizes domestic manufacturing, which could boost local textile recycling infrastructure.
Overall Situation in the United States
No federal mandate
The US currently lacks a unified federal policy on textile recycling and producer responsibility.
Growing state-level action
Several states are leading the way with bans on textile disposal and EPR initiatives.
Momentum for federal legislation
Multiple proposed bills indicate growing interest in addressing textile waste at the national level.
Key Points
The regulatory landscape is evolving rapidly.
There is increasing pressure on producers to take responsibility for their products' end-of-life.
The focus is shifting towards circularity, emphasizing reuse and recycling over disposal.
European Union
2026 will be an active year for implementation of sustainability legislation in the EU and there is continued momentum toward a more circular economy and reducing textile waste.
Legislation in EU affecting Circularity and Textiles Waste Framework Directive (WFD)
The revised WFD entered into force in October 2025. The goal of the WFD is to increase the level of protection for the environment and public health from the impacts of waste management. Objectives are
to limit waste generation
increase reuse
ensure separate waste collection to facilitate or improve preparing for re-use, recycling
other recovery operations, including for textile waste.
Separate collection of textiles is mandatory from January 2025 by Member States.
The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a policy approach that makes producers responsible for their products along the entire lifecycle, including at the post-consumer stage.
EPR schemes will be mandatory across the EU for textiles, footwear, accessories and home textiles. The fees producers pay into EPR schemes will be adjusted based on the environmental performance of their textiles, this is called, Ecomodulated fees. This encourages the use of sustainable materials and design practices.
What’s next?
All Member States must transpose the WFD into national legislation and establish their EPR schemes by April 2028. The need for harmonisation of each member state's schemes will be tackled in the Environmental Omnibus and Circular Economy Act.
Circular Economy Act
The European Commission plans to propose a Circular Economy Act to enhance the EU’s economic security and competitiveness, while promoting more sustainable production, circular economy business models and decarbonisation.
The Act will facilitate the free movement of ‘circular’ products, secondary raw materials and waste. It will also increase the supply of high-quality recycled materials and stimulate demand for these materials in the EU.
EPR harmonization will be boosted by the generation of:
Definition of the activities funded by EPR fees
Fee allocation methods
Ecomodulation criteria
Operational and financial model for Produce Responsibility Organizations (PROs).
What’s next?
Legislation will be issued by Q4 2026.
The Eco-design for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) provides a general framework for eco-design, applying to any physical goods that are placed on the market or put into service.
The Textiles Delegated Act is under preparation and the Ecodesign requirements will tackle the following aspects: Physical durability; Maintenance; Repairability; Generation of waste; Recyclability and recycled content; Environmental impacts; and Presence of substances of concern.
Mandatory recycled content in products is being considered and priority is given to textile-to-textile recycled materials.
The Ecodesign Forum has been created for experts consultation
What’s next?
In 2026, the technical work will continue. Further consultations are expected, including engagement with the Ecodesign Forum. The adoption of the final rules is currently planned for the Q2 of 2027.
Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR)
Key trends
Separate collection is crucial, but not enough.
Separate collection of textile waste is becoming a standard requirement to enable effective sorting and recycling. However, there is a need for proper sorting according to the specifications for reuse and recycling.
Automated sorting is increasing the sorting efficiency, but collectors and sorters need mechanisms such as the Eco-modulation fees in order to financially adapt to the new requirements.
Focus on circularity
Regulations are increasingly promoting reuse and recycling over disposal, aiming for a circular economy.
Other Countries
France
EPR for textiles has been in place since 2007, with producers financing collection and recycling systems.
United Kingdom
A consultation on EPR for textiles is underway, with potential implementation in the coming years.
Netherlands
Implemented an EPR scheme for textiles in 2023, setting targets for reuse and recycling.
Infographic: extended producer responsibility for textiles | Publication - Government.nl
Japan
Has a voluntary EPR system for apparel, with some brands participating.
Sweden
Has an EPR system for packaging that includes some textiles, and is considering expanding it.
Australia
Several states have bans on textile landfill disposal, and a national EPR scheme is being considered.
Key Trends
EPR is gaining traction
Many countries are adopting or exploring EPR as a way to hold producers accountable and incentivize sustainable practices.
Measuring the Benefits of Extended Producer Responsibility - Diversys
Separate collection is crucial
Separate collection of textile waste is becoming a standard requirement to enable effective sorting and recycling.
Focus on circularity
Regulations are increasingly promoting reuse and recycling over disposal, aiming for a circular economy.
Additional Points
Developing countries
Some countries are facing challenges with imported textile waste, leading to calls for stricter regulations on international trade.
Second-hand clothes from West pose environmental challenges in Africa – ExpertsConsumer awareness
Raising consumer awareness about textile waste and recycling options is crucial for the success of these regulations. Education is crucial for proper separation in the textile bins.