One of the reasons for the introduction of this measure is the need to change the situation in the market, where textile disposal is often more profitable than recycling. Every year, millions of clothing items end up in landfills in the EU. This is especially true for online retail, where returns occur in large quantities, and it is easier for companies to dispose of them than to resell them.
According to information from the European Commission, about 10% of unsold goods, including shoes and clothing, are destroyed in Europe, with the majority being incinerated. This results in the emission of approximately 5.6 million tons of carbon dioxide per year, which would exceed the emissions of the entire Sweden. In Germany, nearly 20 million returned items are disposed of each year solely in the online retail sector, negatively impacting the environment and climate.
Instead of continuing the practice of disposal, the European Commission aims to encourage companies to manage their inventories more effectively, improve return processing, and seek alternative solutions such as resale, recycling, or charitable donation of clothing.
