Reconomy, the leading international circular economy specialist, has today published a new global strategy exploring the evolving global landscape of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for textiles, outlining how businesses can prepare for upcoming changes and detailing Reconomy’s strategic initiatives to support businesses across Europe and worldwide.
The textile industry is approaching a period of significant regulatory and operational transformation. Traditionally, one of the most resource-intensive sectors, textiles generate substantial waste and emissions throughout their lifecycle.
New EPR legislation is driving a fundamental shift by making producers responsible for end-of-life management, including collection, reuse, recycling, and disposal. This structural change is intended to accelerate the transition towards circular business models and more sustainable production and consumption patterns.
Reconomy views this regulatory shift not as a compliance burden, but as a critical opportunity for innovation and competitive differentiation. By supporting stakeholders in turning regulatory requirements into strategic advantages, Reconomy aims to help businesses build more resilient and circular operations while meeting increasing expectations from consumers, retailers, and policymakers.
The new strategy paper, Textile EPR Strategy 2030, sets out a comprehensive five-year roadmap, providing an overview of anticipated policy timelines and evolving requirements. It also addresses key themes including eco-modulation, Digital Product Passports, and the growing need for robust data and supply chain transparency.
The document outlines Reconomy’s mission and specific initiatives over the next five years that will enable clients to navigate the complex textile EPR landscape effectively.
In the short term, during the “pre-EPR” phase, this includes helping clients understand the regulatory impact, preparing them operationally, building strong partnerships across the textile ecosystem — including with sorters, recyclers, and other key stakeholders — and investing in technology to enable advanced data management and material returns.
In the longer term, once EPR legislation is established across all EU member states and additional global markets, Reconomy will continue to support clients with multi-jurisdictional compliance (including in regions such as North America), help them leverage product-level data insights to drive innovation and better product design, and accelerate their transition to circular business models.
Reconomy operates more PROs globally than any other company and is uniquely positioned to support producers during this transition. With over 20 years of experience and a network spanning more than 40 PROs across packaging, electronics, batteries, and textiles, Reconomy offers end-to-end support - from regulatory monitoring and data management to material returns, repair logistics, and digital integration.
The strategy follows the launch of Reconomy's Textile EPR Impact Assessment service – a new tailored service designed to help businesses prepare for the rapidly evolving landscape of textile regulations.
Lavi Aharon, Director of Reconomy’s Textile Programme and Business Development Director, said: “Textile producers are facing an increasingly complex and fast-evolving regulatory landscape as EPR schemes roll out across the world, and especially in Europe. At the same time, they are under growing pressure to demonstrate real progress on sustainability to retailers and consumers.
“Our new global strategy not only sets out what businesses can expect over the next five years but also details Reconomy’s own strategy and initiatives to support this transition.
“At Reconomy, we are uniquely positioned to support stakeholders worldwide through our comprehensive, end-to-end textile EPR services - from regulatory monitoring and data management to take-back, repair, and circularity solutions.
“We look forward to working with the textile industry to successfully navigate this transformation, enhance operational efficiency, and contribute to a more circular economy that protects valuable resources.”
Link to the new paper: https://www.reconomy.com/extended-producer-responsibility/epr-textiles/