Directive (EU) 2025/1892, which enters into force on 16 October 2025, requires Member States to adopt binding measures to reduce food waste and to implement extended producer responsibility (EPR) for textile products. By 2030, food waste must be reduced by 10% in processing and manufacturing and by 30% in distribution and household consumption. Member States will need to establish monitoring systems, reporting obligations and incentives for prevention, redistribution and recycling.
With regard to textile waste, the Directive introduces an EU-wide EPR scheme. Producers placing textile products on the market will be required to register, finance the collection and treatment of discarded textiles and join collective systems or set up individual compliance schemes. Member States must ensure traceability, transparency of financial flows and adequate coverage of waste management costs.
The Directive must be transposed into national law by 17 June 2027. The European Commission is expected to adopt implementing acts and guidelines to harmonise reporting methodologies and ensure consistent application across Member States. This reform represents a key step in the transition towards a circular economy, increasing accountability of producers and aligning national legislation with the objectives of the European Green Deal.
