By 2030, the food processing and production industry will have to cut its waste by 10%, while retail, restaurants, food services and households will need to reduce it by 30% per capita, compared to the annual average generated between 2021 and 2023. In addition, economic operators playing a significant role in food waste prevention and generation will have to facilitate the donation of unsold but edible food. This is set out in the new legislation approved by the European Parliament on 9 September, which Member States will have twenty months from its entry into force to transpose into national law.

Extended producer responsibility for textiles

The legislation requires all producers placing textiles on the European market —including e-commerce operators, whether based inside or outside the EU— to cover the costs of collection, sorting and recycling through new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes. When setting financial contributions, fast fashion and ultra fast fashion practices must be taken into account.

The affected products include clothing and accessories, hats, footwear, blankets, bed and kitchen linen, and curtains. Member States may also apply EPR schemes to mattress producers.

Micro-enterprises will have an additional year to adapt.

A far-reaching challenge

Each European citizen wastes 132 kg of food and generates 12 kg of textile and footwear waste every year. It is estimated that less than 1% of textiles worldwide are recycled into new products.

Photo: © European Union 2022 – Source : EP