EU Waste Directive 2025/1892 – Binding food waste targets and Extended Producer Responsibility for Textiles
Directive (EU) 2025/1982 amending Directive 2008/98/EC in relation to food waste and extended producer responsibility (EPR) for textiles was published on 26 September and entered into force twenty days after publication, on 16 October 2025. The Directive pursues two central aims: (1) binding food waste reduction targets and (2) establishing EPR for textiles and textile related products on the EU markets.
Food waste obligations
The first of these two aims tackled by the new directive is the implementation of binding food waste targets for Member States. These targets state that by 31 December 2030 there will be: 10% reduction in food waste from manufacturing and processing and a 30% reduction of food waste per capita in retail, food services and households. Both these targets will be measured in comparison to the annual average food waste between 2021 and 2023. These targets will be reviewed by 31 December 2027 and altered if necessary.
Extended Producer Responsibility
The new directive also introduces a mandatory EPR scheme, making procedures responsible for the full lifecycle of textiles and footwear in Member States. This applies to all producers who sell textile, textile-related or footwear products in the EU, including those who are established outside of the EU. Producers will be responsible for the costs of collection, transportation, and sorting of textiles through costs calculated by ‘eco-modulation’ which measures the environmental performance of textiles.
The implementation of this directive requires member states to set up registers for producers to measure compliance covering both domestic and online suppliers. Producers will then be required to register as well as appoint a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) which will ensure their EPR obligations are being fulfilled.
These organisations will also have separate collection systems for used and waste textiles which will be managed by free collection points set up by PRO’s and waste operators.
Implementation
The Directive entered into force on 16 October 2025, giving a deadline for Member States to have transposed the Directive into national law by 17 June 2027.
In terms of the food waste targets, Member State must designate competent authorities to deal with the targets by 17 January 2026. These authorities then must communicate their plans for food waste prevention programs by 17 October 2027. Then by 31 December 2027, these targets will be reviewed and amended if necessary.
In relation to the EPR for the textile industry, the schemes must be set up by each Member state by 17 April 2028. However, there is an extension on this deadline to 17 April 2029 for compliance of micro-enterprises allowing additional transition time.
Implications for businesses
The introduction of this new directive will lead to an increase in costs for producers of textile, textile related, and footwear products sold within the EU. Firms will need to incorporate the contributions required by the EPR schemes into their budget should their product fall under Annex IVc of the directive which details the products to which this applies to. Producers’ payments will fund collection, sorting, re-cycling and re-use capabilities and the cost of compliance will serve as an encouragement to re-formulate products and the cost of fast fashion.
