From 19 July 2026, large textile companies will no longer be allowed to destroy unsold footwear, clothing and accessories, as established by the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (EU) 2024/1781. In addition, companies will be required to prepare an annual report containing detailed information on the waste management of unsold products, including the number of units, their weight, the reasons for their destruction and the measures taken to prevent it. When waste is transferred to an authorised waste manager, companies must also submit a declaration specifying which of the exceptions provided for in the Regulation justifies the destruction. These obligations will also apply to medium-sized enterprises from 19 July 2030.

This new legislation marks a significant shift in the management of surplus products in the textile sector and promotes more circular and transparent business models.

What are the implications of Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 for businesses?

The new regulatory framework requires companies to thoroughly review how they manage unsold products and move towards models that prioritise prevention, reuse and recovery of surplus products.

A roadmap to comply with the new Ecodesign Regulation

inèdit and Edra support companies throughout this transition with a practical and progressive approach that helps them meet the new requirements while identifying opportunities for improvement and greater efficiency.

Short term: assessment and preparation

The first step is to identify the regulatory obligations applicable to each company and assess its current level of compliance. Based on this assessment, an action plan is developed to meet the new requirements.

This phase also includes the characterisation of products currently being destroyed and an assessment of existing traceability systems in order to establish more robust monitoring and record-keeping mechanisms. Finally, internal policies and procedures are reviewed and updated to ensure compliance and manage any applicable exemptions.

Medium term: implementation and monitoring

At this stage, procedures for managing unsold products are further refined to ensure compliance with the Regulation and its exemptions. Companies also strengthen the quality of the information shared with third parties and improve internal awareness of the new legal requirements.

The management procedure is based on the waste hierarchy established by the Waste Framework Directive (prevention, reuse, recycling, other recovery and disposal), giving priority to reducing the generation of unsold consumer products before considering their destruction.

At the same time, a robust traceability and reporting system is implemented to document the measures adopted, the exemptions applied and the final destination of unsold products. Internal training is also provided to ensure that teams understand and consistently apply the new procedures.

Long term: optimisation and continuous improvement

For companies willing to go a step further, inèdit offers a phase focused on optimising the processes that generate unsold products, with the aim of minimising surplus and maximising the value of manufactured products.

Through a value chain analysis, the points where unsold products originate are identified, enabling the definition of strategies and measures to prevent and reduce their generation.

Want to know how the Ecodesign Regulation will affect your business?

We can help you anticipate the new regulatory requirements and turn this challenge into an opportunity to improve your circularity and business performance. Get in touch with us and we will support you throughout the compliance process.