EU Bans Destruction of Unsold Clothes in New Push Against Fashion Waste

A new European Union rule banning large companies from destroying unsold clothing, accessories and footwear came into force on Sunday as part of the bloc’s efforts to reduce waste and make the fashion industry more sustainable. Every year, hundreds of thousands of tons of clothes and shoes are discarded across the EU due to damaged products, excess inventory, outdated collections and online returns that are not resold. The new regulation targets major fashion retailers, wholesalers and clothing manufacturers, despite the fact that only around 20% of apparel sold in the EU is produced within the bloc. ...