Ecodesign rules edge closer
The European Parliament and Council negotiators have agreed on an update to the so-called “ecodesign” regulation that aims to improve various aspects of products throughout their lifecycle to make them more durable and reliable, easier to reuse, upgrade, repair and recycle, use less resources, energy and water.
Textiles and footwear are among priority product groups that need to adopt rules no later than nine months after the entry into force of the new legislation.
Negotiators agreed to specifically ban the destruction of unsold apparel, clothing accessories and footwear, two years after the entry into force of the law (six years for medium-sized enterprises). In the future, the Commission may add additional categories to the list of unsold products for which a destruction ban should be introduced. Economic operators that destroy unsold goods would have to report annually the quantities of products they discarded as well as their reasons why.
However, there has been industry opposition to a blanket ban – as reported in the latest issue of World Footwear. Sports goods association FESI warned it could threaten a waste stream for recycling.
