EU Parliament Approves Landmark Waste Framework Directive Revision
On 9 September 2025, the European Parliament gave final approval to a major revision of the Waste Framework Directive (Directive 2008/98/EC), introducing binding targets to reduce food and textile waste across the European Union. This legislative update marks a significant step in the EU’s transition toward a circular economy, aligning with the goals of the European Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan.
Binding Targets for Food Waste Reduction
Under the revised directive, Member States must achieve the following by 31 December 2030:
- 10% reduction in food waste from processing and manufacturing
- 30% per capita reduction across retail, restaurants, food services, and households
These targets are based on average waste levels recorded between 2021 and 2023, and are designed to address the EU’s most resource-intensive sector, where food waste remains a major environmental and social challenge.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Textiles
The revision also introduces harmonised Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes for textiles, requiring producers to cover the costs of:
- Collection
- Sorting
- Recycling of textile waste
This applies to a wide range of products including clothing, footwear, accessories, bed and kitchen linen, curtains, and potentially mattresses, depending on national implementation.
Key implementation deadlines:
- EPR schemes must be established by each Member State within 30 months of the directive’s entry into force
- Micro-enterprises will have an additional 12 months to comply
- All producers, including e-commerce platforms and non-EU sellers, are covered by the rules
Legislative Timeline and Next Steps
- The Council of the EU endorsed the legislation in June 2025
- Following formal signing and publication in the EU’s official Journal on 26 September 2025, the directive will enter into force 20 days later
- Member States will then have 20 months to transpose the provisions into national law
This harmonised approach aims to reduce compliance complexity for businesses while accelerating the EU’s shift toward sustainable production and consumption.
Sources and Further Reading
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- Directive (EU) 2025/1892 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 September 2025 amending Directive 2008/98/EC on waste (Text with EEA relevance) https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2025/1892/oj/eng