EU Takes on Waste: Bold New Rules to Cut Food and Textile Waste by 2030

On 18 February 2025, the European Parliament and Council reached a provisional agreement on new measures to prevent and reduce waste from food and textiles across the EU. With an estimated 60 million tonnes of food waste and 12.6 million tonnes of textile waste (of which 5.2 million tonnes, or 12 kilograms per person, are made up of clothing and footwear) generated annually, the initiative seeks to promote a more circular economy.

Enhanced Food Waste Reduction Targets

The agreement sets binding targets for EU countries to cut food waste by 2030 as follows: in manufacturing and processing a 10% reduction compared to the average levels recorded between 2021 and 2023; while in retail, hospitality and households a 30% per capita reduction from the same reference period. The percentage is under the Parliament’s scrutiny already: members want to increase the binding waste reduction targets proposed by the Commission to at least 20% in food processing and manufacturing (instead of 10%) and to 40% per capita in retail, restaurants, food services and households (instead of 30%), in comparison to the annual average generated between 2020 and 2022.

Additionally, Member States are required to implement measures that prevent food waste across the entire supply chain. This includes promoting the sale of "ugly" fruits and vegetables – produce with external imperfections that remain safe and suitable for consumption – and encouraging innovations like intelligent packaging to extend shelf life. Clear date labeling on food products is also mandated to reduce consumer confusion and prevent unnecessary discarding of edible food. Large food businesses will be required to facilitate food donations, ensuring that safe-to-eat surplus food is redirected rather than wasted.

Extended Producer Responsibility for Textiles

To combat growing textile waste, the EU will introduce Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes. Under these rules, textile manufacturers, including online retailers inside and outside the EU, must cover the costs of collecting, sorting, and recycling discarded textiles. These measures will take effect 30 months after the directive is enforced, with small businesses granted an extra year to comply. The rules cover a wide range of products, such as clothing, footwear and household textiles. Member States are also encouraged to address ultra-fast fashion practices when determining financial contributions under the EPR schemes, promoting more sustainable production and consumption patterns.

What’s next?

Before these new regulations take effect, they must receive formal approval from the European Parliament and the Council. Once adopted, EU countries will have 20 months to integrate them into national law, marking a significant push toward waste reduction and sustainability in Europe.