Source Fashion’s “Mini Guide to Textiles Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in the EU and UK” will be released ahead of the organisation’s next sourcing show, taking place from 13–15 January at Olympia London.
EPR will require producers to take responsibility for the collection, sorting, reuse and recycling of textiles, and to fund these systems across EU member states under the revised Waste Framework Directive. Similar measures are being explored in the UK.
Source Fashion’s guide outlines:
- Who and what falls under the new rules
- Geographical scope across EU and UK markets
- Key requirements and cost implications
- Intersections with existing frameworks, including the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR)
- A visual timeline to support compliance planning through 2025.
The guide draws on international schemes already in place in France, the Netherlands, Hungary, Latvia, Australia and Chile, and includes case studies and examples of best practice.
It also references WRAP initiatives such as the Accelerating EPR Knowledge Project and the EPR Sandbox, highlighting the need for better communication with consumers as the industry shifts towards circularity.
Despite growing clarity, questions remain around how different markets will harmonise requirements, the infrastructure needed to process textile waste, and the future role of waste management hubs.
The guide tackles these concerns and offers a practical checklist of what producers, retailers, and brands need to start doing now, from conducting product assessments to appointing legal entities or representatives in each market where products are sold.
“EPR isn’t just another policy acronym, it's a fundamental shift in how the fashion ecosystem must operate,” said Suzanne Ellingham, event director at Source Fashion. “With this guide, we aim to make the transition clearer and more achievable, helping businesses not only comply with new legal requirements but lead in the global shift to a circular fashion economy.”
