Recycling Europe Textiles calls for mandatory recycled content in textile products in Europe from 2028

Recycling Europe Textiles (RET), the European association representing the textile reuse and recycling sector, has urged the EU Commission to introduce ecodesign standards requiring the presence of at least 10% recycled fiber content in textile products from 2028.

RET believes that the upcoming European regulation on eco-design of textile products is a decisive opportunity to accelerate the industry's transition towards a truly circular model. In a position statement published on January 7, the organization stressed that introducing mandatory recycled content requirements is essential to strengthen the recycling industry and respond to increasing pressure on textile waste collection and treatment systems in Europe.

According to RET, the sector is currently facing a critical situation, characterized by an excess of low-quality textile waste, weak demand for recycled fibers and financing limitations. The situation is likely to worsen when separate collection of used textiles becomes mandatory in Europe in January 2025 and given the growing consumption of clothing driven by the ultra-fast fashion phenomenon. Without clear signals from the market, RET warned, increasing volumes of used textiles risk being incinerated or sent to landfill, rather than being reused to make new products.

To reverse this cycle, RET advocates for a strict and specific definition of “recycled content” that prioritizes post-consumer textile waste generated in Europe, excludes open-loop sources such as PET bottles, and discourages the generation of industrial textile waste. The goal is to promote true fiber-to-fiber circularity and ensure that recycling efforts focus on the main textile waste stream in the European market.

In terms of targets, RET proposes the progressive introduction of mandatory recycled content requirements for textile products, starting with a portfolio-level approach and moving towards product-level targets from 2030. The proposals stipulate a minimum of 10% recycled fibers by 2028, 15% by 2030 and 30% by 2035, with an increasing proportion coming from European post-consumer waste. These targets, according to RET, would send clear predictive signals to the market, creating steady demand for recycled fibers and unlocking investments in new sorting and recycling technologies.

Another pillar of RET's position is the need for robust and credible verification systems. The partnership supports a hybrid model that combines chain of custody systems, mass balance methodologies and greater traceability, especially in the collection and sorting stages. In this context, the EU Digital Product Passport is considered a key tool to strengthen transparency, as it requires clear information on the amount, type and origin of recycled content incorporated into textile products.

“Mandatory recycled content targets are among the most effective policy instruments to transform the European textile industry. By promoting genuine fiber-by-fiber circularity, the European Union can reduce resource extraction, boost innovation and recycling capacity, and support a resilient and competitive European textile recycling sector,” RET concluded.