Crunch time for textile and footwear brands - ESPR working plan drafted
The European Union’s commitment to sustainability is ushering in a wave of regulatory changes that aim to minimize environmental impact across industries. Leading this effort is the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), a framework developed to create products that are more durable, repairable, and recyclable. Among its primary targets are the textile and footwear sectors, where the environmental footprint has drawn significant concern. One critical date communicated in this transformation is April 19, 2025, when the first working plan was to be released. Based on the European Parliament ENVI Committee meeting on April 7th, 2025 a draft of the working plan has been presented already.
What is ESPR, and why is it important?
The ESPR goes beyond traditional ecodesign rules that focus mostly on energy efficiency. Instead, it adopts a more comprehensive approach to circularity, covering the entire lifecycle of a product. This includes material sourcing, manufacturing, usage, and end-of-life management.
Textiles and footwear, as resource-intensive industries, are a key focus of the ESPR. Sustainability has long been a concern in these sectors due to their reliance on natural resources, environmental footprint, and waste generation. The ESPR will demand significant adaptations that encourage brands to prioritize circularity, transparency, and innovation.
First ESPR Working Plan
The first working plan of the ESPR, setting the stage for significant changes across industries over the next few years. The plan prioritizes products and measures based on market size, improvement potential, and environmental impact. Textiles and apparel have been ranked as the top priority, reflecting their market size of €175 billion (2021, including footwear) and their substantial environmental footprint. Key updates in this working plan include:
- Product Prioritization: Textiles and footwear lead the priority list, reflecting their environmental significance and ranking first in the Joint Research Centre (JRC) analysis of products with improvement potential.
- Repairability and Recyclability: Brands must adapt to new standards aimed at improving the ease of repair and increasing the use of recyclable and recycled materials—not only for durability but to align with circular economy principles.
- Digital Product Passports (DPPs): By 2027, DPPs will be introduced, providing detailed information on a product’s materials, environmental footprint, and end-of-life options.
- Ban on Destroying Unsold Goods: By 2026, large enterprises will face a prohibition on destroying unsold consumer goods, including textiles and footwear, as part of broader waste-reduction measures.
Game-Changing Initiatives for Textiles
The ESPR’s focus on sustainability will demand significant changes from the textile and footwear industries. The first working plan introduces several initiatives to achieve these goals, requiring brands to rethink their designs, materials, and supply chain processes to comply with these regulations. Major changes include:
- Introduction of Horizontal Requirements
- Increased repairability standards, such as repair scoring systems, which will make it easier for consumers to maintain products.
- Mandatory use of recycled materials where applicable, boosting material circularity.
- Targeted Product Measures
- Textiles and footwear face tighter timelines, with measures expected to take effect as early as the end of 2026 for textiles and apparel.
- Products like mattresses and furniture will follow, showcasing the scalability of these sustainability rules.
- Intermediate Product Regulations
- The focus on components like iron, steel, and aluminum in the ESPR working plan suggests that upstream supply chains will also need to prioritize sustainable sourcing and production.
Preparing for the Changes Ahead
To meet these ambitious goals by the time they become mandatory, textile and footwear brands need to act now. Companies should start by:
- Assessing current practices and identifying gaps in sustainability.
- Implementing systems for tracking material data and lifecycle assessments.
- Exploring partnerships with suppliers to ensure compliance with recyclability, repairability, and carbon footprint requirements.
How Trimco Group Can Help
With deep expertise in providing innovative labeling solutions and sustainability insights, Trimco Group can assist brands by:
- Kickstarting Digital Product Passport projects that meet regulatory standards and align with brand needs.
- Offering the advantages of ProductDNA to ensure transparency in compliance across the supply chain.
April 19th, 2025 is a turning point for achieving sustainable transformation in the textile and footwear industries. While the road ahead requires substantial effort, businesses that act early will position themselves as leaders in the future of responsible production.
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