Pushing the boundaries of EPR policy for textiles
Updated on 29.07.2025
This publication lays out why mandatory, fee-based Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy is a necessary part of the solution to build a circular economy for textiles. EPR policy places responsibility on producers with regard to the collection, sorting, and recirculation of the products they place on the market, resulting in funding that is dedicated, ongoing, and sufficient to manage textile products when they are discarded. This report proposes a common approach to EPR policy design for textiles, based on circular economy principles. This approach focuses on aligned definitions, key objectives, and the involvement of stakeholders in shaping and implementing EPR policy for textiles.
Relevance for Circular Systemic Solutions
The report targets the textile value chain, particularly focusing on clothing, footwear, and household textiles. It engages stakeholders across manufacturing, retail, waste management, reuse markets, and policy. The main sectoral theme is sustainable textiles and waste governance through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) frameworks.
For cities and regions, the report offers concrete EPR policy recommendations to fund and scale separate textile collection infrastructure, enhance local reuse and recycling capabilities, and stimulate circular economy jobs. It highlights real-world insights from regions like France, the Netherlands, Ghana, and Chile, showing how local governments can adopt or tailor EPR for social and environmental impact.
This resource is particularly helpful at the design and implement stages. For design, it proposes a common EPR framework including scope, actors, and cost coverage; for implementation, it supports funding mechanisms, infrastructure planning, and legal alignment.
CEAP2 key product value chain
digital tools facilitating CE transition
e.g. chemicals, cosmetics, bio-based industries
e.g. electrical engineering, furniture and interior, textile and fashion
<5 000
large 500 000-200 000, medium 200 000-50 000, and small cities 50 000-5 000
large metropolitan area >1.5 million, metropolitan area 1.5 million-500 000
predominantly urban regions, intermediate and predominantly rural regions, refer to TERCET typology NUTS 3 region
e.g. commercial, residential, service, industrial
