What does the obligation for textile waste disposal mean worldwide?
In many European countries — including France, Sweden, Belgium, and the Netherlands — legal regulations for the registration, take-back, and recycling of textiles are already in place. These fall under the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and apply to products such as clothing, home textiles, and other textile goods.
Manufacturers and importers in those countries must ensure that their textiles are properly registered and integrated into take-back systems.
In contrast, Germany currently has no specific EPR obligation for textiles. However, the Circular Economy Act and Packaging Ordinance govern the environmentally responsible disposal and recycling of textile waste.