On 13 March 2024 the European Parliament approved its report on the EU Waste Framework Directive (WFD) recast, in the report’s first reading. This update of the WFD focuses on food and textile waste and carries significant novelties for both the companies producing waste as well as waste collectors.

MEPs propose higher binding waste-reduction targets to be met at the national level by 31 December 2030 - a reduction of at least 20 percent in food processing and manufacturing and a per capita reduction of at least 40 percent in retail, restaurants, food services and households.

MEPs also agreed to expand producer responsibility (EPR) schemes. If the proposal stays as is, manufacturers that sell textiles in the EU would have to cover the costs for their separate collection, sorting and recycling. Member states would also have to establish these schemes within 18 months from the law’s entry into force.

The material scope of the new rules extends to clothing and accessories, blankets, bed linen, curtains, hats, footwear, mattresses and carpets - including products that contain textile-related materials, such as leather, composition leather, rubber or plastic. The financial burden on producers is likely to increase, as the Directive suggests that producers are to finance development of repair and reuse operations.

The plenary also supported more harmonized data streams in Europe to better check and verify company declarations and related behavior. The introduction of digital product passports for textiles will also cover the full lifecycle of products, hopefully making controls and traceability more transparent and essentially easier. While micro-companies are exempted, they would be allowed to participate in producer responsibility organizations.

The Council and the Parliament won’t launch a dialogue on this until after the EU Parliament elections in June. Stakeholders are encouraged to make their voices heard because inadequate compliance may be costly.

We at Dentons are continuing to monitor the changes closely, ensuring that our clients are well represented in the process, at all levels.