The regulation is part of the National Strategy for the Circular Economy and will require both manufacturers and large-scale distributors that first place textile products on the Italian market to assume new responsibilities for waste management.
Under the proposed rules, companies in Italy must support or organise systems to collect post-consumer textiles, contributing to separate waste collection targets and the wider development of more sustainable industry practices.
Minister of the Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichetto, said: “The favourable opinion expressed today by the Unified Conference on the regulation introducing the Extended Producer Responsibility regime for textile products represents a fundamental step toward a more sustainable production and consumption model, in line with the European circular economy objectives.”
The measures aim to broaden the definition of ‘producer’ to include importers and distributors bringing textile goods to Italy for the first time.
According to MASE, this approach acknowledges changes in the global supply chain and seeks to reduce rapid product turnover by incentivising higher quality and longer-lasting products. The regulation also sets out requirements to encourage eco-design and the use of recycled materials across the supply chain.
Specific provisions address traceability, transparency and oversight of collective systems, as well as fair competition, including measures for online retailers.
The Ministry says these rules are intended to promote a supply chain focused on efficiency, responsibility and sustainability.
Reverse Logistics Group (RLG), an organisation specialising in environmental compliance and take-back solutions, described the progress of the regulation as a major milestone in establishing a circular textile economy in Italy.
The organisation noted that clearer requirements for producers will help set the foundation for a more sustainable sector, encouraging the creation of more durable and repairable products made from recycled content.
Sara Faccioli, managing director of RLG Italy, said: “The green light of the proposed Textile EPR regulation is a landmark moment for Italy’s textile sector and a significant step towards building a more circular and resource-efficient economy. This is a long-awaited reform that provides businesses with greater certainty while establishing a clear framework for producer responsibility in the textile value chain.”
MASE indicated that, with these rules in place, the textile sector aims to combine environmental protection, innovation, and business competitiveness, positioning responsibility and sustainability as central elements in Italy’s textile industry.
The news follows shortly after the Irish government published a draft delivery plan for its national EPR scheme for textiles.
