The European Parliament and the EU Council reached a provisional agreement this Tuesday on a new eco-design regulation for sustainable products, with which they aim prohibit the destruction of clothing and footwear that is not sold.

The European Commission launched this proposed regulation in March 2022 with new requirements for make products more durablereliable, reusable, upgradeable, repairable, easier to maintain, renew and recycle, and efficient in the use of energy and resources.

Following the provisional political agreement of the European Parliament and the Council of the EU, these community institutions must formally approve it before it is published in the Official Gazette of the European Union for it to come into force.

The negotiators of the European Chamber and the Twenty-seven agreed that the companies that destroy unsold goods They would have to report annually on the quantities of products discarded, as well as the reasons.

In addition, they agreed to specifically prohibit the destruction of unsold clothing, clothing accessories and footwear, something that will occur two years after the entry into force of the law. SMEs and microenterprises will be exempt from this ban, while medium-sized companies will benefit from a six-year exemption.

In the future, the European Commission may add additional categories to the list of unsold products for which a destruction ban should be introduced.

Negotiators also agreed that the European Commission should prioritize product groups in its first work plan to be adopted no later than nine months after the entry into force of the new legislation, such as iron, steel, aluminium, textiles ( particularly clothing and footwear), furniture, tyres, detergents, paints, lubricants and chemicals.

On the other hand, the new ‘digital product passport’ will contain accurate and updated information so that consumers make informed purchasing decisions. According to the agreed text, the Commission will operate a public web portal that will make it easier for consumers to search and compare the information included in product passports.

On behalf of the Council of the EU, the Spanish Minister of Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, He pointed out that “the first element that makes a product ecological is the brain that designs it”. “With the agreement reached today we want to ensure that all sustainable dimensions of product manufacturing are taken into account from the first stage of their conception,” he added.

“It’s time to end the ‘take, make, throw away’ model, which is so harmful to our planet, our health and our economy. New products will be designed in a way that benefits everyonerespect our planet and protect the environment.

Sustainable products will become the norm, allowing consumers to save energy, repair and make smart environmental decisions when shopping. Banning the destruction of unsold textiles and footwear will also contribute to a change in the way fast fashion manufacturers produce their products,” summarized MEP Alessandra Moretti.