TEXTILE POLICIES

GLOBAL CONSIDERATIONS

  1. European Union: New textile waste policy | EU-wide textile waste regime (Waste Framework Directive + EPR for textiles): As of January 1, 2026, the European Union is implementing a mandatory, EU-wide framework for textile waste, anchored in revisions to the Waste Framework Directive (WFD) and new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) requirements for textiles.

What this means globally: The EU effectively sets the de facto global standard for textile waste policy. Brands selling into the EU must comply regardless of where production occurs, pushing supply-chain changes worldwide.

Core elements:

  • Mandatory separate collection of textile waste All EU Member States are required to ensure separate collection of textiles, ending the practice of landfilling or incinerating textiles with mixed municipal waste.

  • Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for textiles Producers placing textiles (clothing, footwear, household textiles) on the EU market must:

    • Finance collection, sorting, reuse, and recycling

    • Pay eco-modulated fees (lower fees for durable, repairable, recyclable products)

    • Report volumes placed on the market and waste outcomes

  • Shift from charity-based collection to regulated systems Informal donation systems are increasingly integrated into regulated EPR schemes with traceability and performance targets.

  • Alignment with EU circular economy strategy This policy connects directly to:

    • The EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles

    • Ecodesign requirements (durability, repairability, recyclability)

    • Green Claims and consumer transparency rules

What this means globally: The EU effectively sets the de facto global standard for textile waste policy. Brands selling into the EU must comply regardless of where production occurs, pushing supply-chain changes worldwide.

Core EU Sources (Primary Law & Official EU Publications)

1. EU Waste Framework Directive (revised, 2018/851) Official source: European Parliament & Council Directive (EU) 2018/851 amending Directive 2008/98/EC (EU Waste Framework Directive)

2. EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles (2022) Official source: European Commission, EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles
(COM(2022) 141 final)

3. Proposed Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) Official source:
 European Commission proposal (2022), adopted framework with delegated acts rolling out 2024–2027

Supporting & Interpretive Sources (Used by Policymakers)

4. European Environment Agency (EEA) – Textiles & Circular Economy

5. Joint Research Centre (JRC) Technical Reports | Official EU science arm

  • - - IN THE STATES: State of EPR

No federal textile EPR, policy remains fragmented

As of January 1, 2026, the United States has no federal-level EPR program for textiles.

Current reality:

  • EPR exists in the U.S. for other materials Packaging, electronics, paint, batteries, and mattresses are covered in many states, but textiles are not yet included in any national framework.

  • Textiles remain classified as municipal solid waste Responsibility largely falls on:

    • Local governments

    • Nonprofit donation systems

    • Private recyclers

    • Export markets (often opaque)

  • Rising pressure from states and NGOs Textile waste is increasingly identified as:

    • One of the fastest-growing waste streams

    • A climate issue (embedded emissions)

    • A landfill capacity issue

  • Policy movement but no mandate (yet) By late 2025:

    • Several states are studying textile EPR

    • NGOs and coalitions are drafting model legislation

    • Brands are preparing for EU spillover compliance, even without U.S. mandates

Bottom line: The U.S. is 2–5 years behind the EU on textile EPR, with progress happening state by state, not federally.

  • - - Massachusetts: 3 laws or policies addressing textile waste

Massachusetts is one of the most active U.S. states on textile waste — though still without full textile EPR.

1. Massachusetts Waste Disposal Ban (Textiles Included)

  • Textiles are banned from disposal in Massachusetts landfills and incinerators.

  • Originally targeted commercial generators, enforcement has expanded over time.

  • This makes MA one of the few states where discarding textiles is explicitly restricted.

Impact: Creates strong incentives for reuse, donation, and recycling but without a producer-funded system, municipalities still bear costs.

2. Massachusetts Solid Waste Master Plan (2020–2030) The state’s master plan explicitly identifies textiles as a priority material for waste reduction.

Key elements:

  • Waste reduction targets tied to climate goals

  • Support for textile reuse, repair, and recycling infrastructure

  • Recognition that textiles require system-level solutions, not voluntary charity alone

This plan is often cited as a policy bridge toward future EPR.

3. DEP-Supported Textile Recovery & Reuse Initiatives While not legislation, Massachusetts has formal policy programs through MassDEP that:

  • Fund textile recycling pilots

  • Support municipal textile collection programs

  • Partner with reuse and repair organizations

  • Collect data on textile waste flows

These programs function as pre-EPR infrastructure, positioning the state to move faster if producer responsibility legislation is adopted.

—> Read the email I sent to my state legislators about the future of EPR policy in Massachusetts HERE.