Brussels, 8 June 2026 – The revision of the Waste Framework Directive is a key opportunity to establish a coherent EU framework for textile circularity. In its position paper, EURATEX calls for textile Extended Producer Responsibility to be implemented in a coordinated and as harmonised as possible manner across Member States.
A fragmented approach to textile EPR could create unnecessary administrative burden, increase compliance costs and distort competition in the Single Market. This is particularly relevant for companies operating across multiple EU countries, including SMEs, online sellers and cross-border operators.
EURATEX supports the development of a coordinated EU framework for registration and reporting, supported by a digital one-stop shop. Such a system should simplify administrative procedures, provide harmonised data formats and reduce duplication, while allowing Member States to reflect national cost conditions in their eco-contribution structures.
Producer Responsibility Organisations have a central role to play as collective implementing bodies acting on behalf of affiliated producers. They support compliance with EPR obligations and contribute to the achievement of public targets, while enforcement of non-compliant actors must remain the responsibility of competent authorities.
The position paper also underlines the need for harmonised, science-based and transparent eco-modulation. Future criteria should be aligned with the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, technically feasible, economically viable and developed with the involvement of manufacturers, especially SMEs.
Clear scope definitions are essential. EURATEX calls for consistent implementation of the Waste Framework Directive across Member States and warns against divergent national interpretations. Personal protective equipment and medical textiles should be excluded, and further EU guidance is needed to ensure legal certainty.
Reporting requirements should remain simple, proportionate and interoperable with other tools, including the Digital Product Passport, without creating unnecessary duplication. A “report once, use multiple times” approach should guide future implementation.
Effective enforcement is also essential, particularly for e-commerce and third-country sellers. EURATEX calls for a producer-driven, SME-friendly and harmonised textile EPR framework that supports circularity while safeguarding the integrity of the Single Market.
Read the full position paper.