No images? Click here
European Union (EU) Ban on the Destruction of Unsold Clothes and Shoes – What UK Businesses Need to Know
Key Links Mentioned
- Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) overview
- ESPR regulation
- Summary of new EU rules news article
- ESPR FAQs
- European Commission's dedicated ESPR pages
- Contact email address for queries
From 19 July 2026, a ban on the destruction of unsold apparel, clothing accessories and footwear came into force in Northern Ireland under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR).
The ban initially applies to:
- Large enterprises (those with more than 250 employees and either over €50m annual turnover or over €43m balance sheet total).
- Medium-sized enterprises will follow from 2030.
- Small and micro businesses are exempt unless there is reasonable evidence that such enterprises are being used to circumvent disclosure or destruction of unsold consumer products.
What counts as destruction
The ban covers any waste treatment of unsold or returned goods, including recycling, incineration and disposal. It does not apply to preparation for reuse, refurbishment or remanufacturing.
Destruction remains permitted in limited circumstances some examples include:
- where products are damaged beyond use or pose a safety or health risk;
- unsuitability of products for preparing for reuse or for remanufacturing;
- destruction is the option with the least negative environmental impacts.
The full list of exonerations from the prohibition of destruction of unsold consumer products can be found in Article 25, 5 of the regulation.
Who is affected
The rules apply to businesses operating in Northern Ireland or exporting to the EU, including those headquartered in Great Britain. If your products are available for sale to EU and/or Northern Ireland customers – including online with delivery to those markets – these rules may apply to you, even if the stock is held in Great Britain.
In Northern Ireland, DAERA will lead on implementation of these requirements.
Disclosure requirements
Large enterprises are already legally required to publicly disclose information about unsold consumer goods they discard, for the previous financial year. A standardised EU disclosure format will apply from the 2027 reporting cycle.
Further information
The European Commission has published a summary of the new rules, including details on the ban, the businesses affected, available derogations, and the reporting requirements.
The Commission has also published a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). Information relating specifically to the prohibition on the destruction of unsold consumer products can be found in Section 11.
For further guidance, please visit the European Commission's dedicated ESPR pages.
If you have any further queries, please contact us via email.
