EU ban on destroying unsold clothing now in force, fines for violations

A ban on destroying unsold clothing, footwear, and clothing accessories came into force in the European Union on Sunday, with fines of up to thousands of euros for violations, reports Verslo žinios.

This year, the ban applies only to large companies meeting at least two of three criteria: employing 250 or more people, annual revenue exceeding €50 million, or a balance sheet total over €43 million. Medium-sized businesses will face the same restrictions from 2030, while small businesses have no set deadline yet.

According to Aušra Jefremovienė, a representative of the law firm Eversheds Saladžius, Lithuania plans to enforce the ban through its Product Safety Law and Administrative Offences Code. Under these regulations, fines for violations could range from €1,000 to €5,000 for businesses, service providers, and e-commerce platforms. Failure to comply with market supervision decisions may result in fines between €2,000 and €10,000.

The ban stems from the EU’s 2024 Sustainable Product Ecodesign Requirements Regulation. Lithuania generates around 50,000 tonnes of textile waste annually—about 17–18 kg per capita—significantly below the EU average of 12 kg per person. Nationally, 78% of clothing, footwear, and household textiles are discarded with mixed waste, often ending up incinerated or in landfills. Over 62% of collected textiles are prepared for reuse, while the rest are mostly burned.