Table of Contents
- What is Textiles EPR?
- Why is Textiles EPR Coming to the UK?
- The UK Timeline: What We Know So Far
- Who Will Be Affected?
- Expected Obligations for Textile Producers
- How Textiles EPR Compares to Packaging EPR
- Steps to Prepare Now
Key Takeaways
- Textiles EPR will require businesses that place textile products on the UK market to fund their end-of-life management — including collection, sorting, reuse, and recycling.
- The Circular Economy Taskforce has recommended textiles EPR as a priority, and DEFRA is expected to consult on a formal scheme.
- Fashion retailers, importers, online sellers, and workwear suppliers are all likely to fall within scope.
- Expected obligations will mirror packaging EPR — registration, volume reporting, fee payments, and eco-design incentives.
- Businesses that start preparing now will have a significant advantage when regulations come into force.
What is Textiles EPR?
Extended Producer Responsibility for textiles applies the same “polluter pays” principle that already governs packaging EPR to clothing, footwear, household textiles, and other fabric-based products. Under a textiles EPR scheme, businesses that manufacture, import, or sell textile products on the UK market will be financially responsible for what happens to those products at the end of their useful life.
This means producers will fund the infrastructure needed to collect used textiles from consumers, sort them for reuse or recycling, and process materials that cannot be reused. The costs of managing textile waste — currently borne largely by local authorities and charities — will shift to the businesses that profit from placing these products on the market.
The fashion industry is one of the most resource-intensive sectors globally. The UK alone consumes approximately 1.4 million tonnes of new clothing and textiles each year, and around 711,000 tonnes end up in household waste annually, the majority of which is incinerated for energy recovery. These figures have made textiles a clear target for EPR regulation, following the precedent set by packaging, batteries, and electrical equipment.
Why is Textiles EPR Coming to the UK?
Several converging factors are driving the introduction of textiles EPR in the UK.
Environmental urgency. Textile production accounts for an estimated 6-10% of global carbon emissions — more than international flights and maritime shipping combined. The fast fashion model, which encourages rapid turnover of cheap garments, has dramatically increased the volume of textile waste reaching landfill. Polyester and other synthetic fibres can take hundreds of years to decompose and shed microplastics throughout their lifecycle.
The charity sector is struggling. Charity shops and textile banks have historically absorbed much of the UK’s used clothing. However, the declining quality of fast fashion garments means a growing proportion of donated textiles are unsellable and unreusable. Charities are increasingly bearing the cost of disposing of low-quality donations — a cost that arguably should fall on the producers who created these short-lived products.
EU alignment pressure. The European Union’s revised Waste Framework Directive entered into force on 16 October 2025 with mandatory textiles EPR, with member states required to have schemes operational by April 2028. As a major trading partner with the EU, the UK faces practical pressure to align its regulatory approach. For more on this, see our detailed comparison of EU vs UK textiles EPR.
Circular Economy Taskforce recommendations. The UK government’s Circular Economy Taskforce, established to advise on resource efficiency policy, has identified textiles as one of five priority product streams requiring EPR regulation. The Taskforce is expected to publish its Circular Economy Growth Plan in early 2026, which is anticipated to recommend that DEFRA proceed with a formal consultation on a textiles EPR scheme.
The UK Timeline: What We Know So Far
Textiles EPR is not yet law in the UK, but the regulatory trajectory is becoming clearer. Here is the expected timeline based on current government signals and policy developments.
2024-2025: Groundwork and Research
DEFRA commissioned research into textile waste flows, collection infrastructure, and producer obligation models. The Circular Economy Taskforce is expected to publish its Circular Economy Growth Plan in early 2026, recommending textiles EPR as a priority alongside other product streams. WRAP (the Waste and Resources Action Programme) continued its UK Textiles Pact (formerly Textiles 2030) initiative, gathering industry data on production volumes, fibre composition, and recyclability.
2025-2026: Expected DEFRA Consultation
A formal DEFRA consultation on a UK textiles EPR scheme is widely expected. This consultation will set out proposed scope, thresholds, reporting requirements, and fee mechanisms. Businesses and industry bodies will have the opportunity to respond and shape the final regulations. The consultation is likely to draw heavily on lessons learned from the packaging EPR rollout and from France’s existing textiles EPR scheme (Refashion).
2027-2028: Likely Implementation
Based on typical regulatory timescales and the precedent set by packaging EPR — which took approximately three years from consultation to full implementation — a UK textiles EPR scheme could reasonably come into force between 2027 and 2028. This would broadly align with the EU’s April 2028 operational deadline, though the UK may adopt a phased approach with registration requirements preceding fee obligations.
Beyond 2028: Modulation and Maturity
Like packaging EPR, textiles EPR fees are expected to be modulated over time. Products designed for durability, repairability, and recyclability would attract lower fees, while short-lived, hard-to-recycle items — particularly those made from blended fibres — would face higher charges. This eco-modulation is a core feature of France’s existing scheme and is embedded in the EU’s framework.
Who Will Be Affected?
The scope of a UK textiles EPR scheme is expected to cover all businesses that place textile products on the UK market above certain thresholds. Based on the EU model and France’s existing scheme, the following types of businesses are likely to be obligated.
Fashion Retailers and Brands
Any business selling clothing, footwear, or accessories under its own brand — whether through physical stores, e-commerce, or wholesale — will almost certainly be in scope. This includes high street chains, independent boutiques, and direct-to-consumer brands. If you place branded textile products on the UK market, you are a producer under EPR.
Importers
Businesses that import finished textile products into the UK take on producer responsibility for those goods. This is consistent with how packaging EPR treats importers and ensures that overseas manufacturers cannot avoid obligations simply by selling through a UK importer.
Online Sellers and Marketplaces
E-commerce businesses selling textiles are included regardless of whether they operate from a physical premises. Online marketplace operators — platforms like Amazon, eBay, and ASOS Marketplace — may also have obligations, either directly or by requiring their third-party sellers to comply. This mirrors the approach taken with online sellers under packaging EPR.
Workwear and Uniform Suppliers
Businesses supplying workwear, uniforms, and corporate textiles are expected to be within scope. This includes suppliers of hi-vis clothing, healthcare uniforms, hospitality wear, and branded corporate apparel. The volumes involved can be substantial — a single contract to supply uniforms for a large employer could involve thousands of garments annually.
Household Textile Producers
The scope is likely to extend beyond clothing to include household textiles such as bedding, towels, curtains, and upholstery fabrics. Retailers selling these products — from specialist homeware brands to supermarkets — would be obligated for the textile content they place on the market.
Who Might Be Exempt?
As with packaging EPR, there will likely be de minimis thresholds below which businesses are exempt. Small producers under a certain turnover or tonnage threshold may face reduced obligations or be excluded entirely. Charitable organisations are also expected to be exempt, consistent with their treatment under packaging EPR.
Expected Obligations for Textile Producers
While the detailed requirements will be set out in the DEFRA consultation, the following obligations are expected based on international precedents and the packaging EPR model.
Registration
Obligated producers will need to register with a scheme administrator or directly with the regulatory body. This is likely to involve providing company details, describing the types and volumes of textile products placed on the market, and obtaining a unique producer registration number.
Reporting Volumes
Producers will be required to report the tonnage and types of textile products they place on the UK market, likely broken down by product category (clothing, footwear, household textiles) and fibre composition (cotton, polyester, nylon, wool, blends). Accurate data collection will be essential — businesses will need systems to track what they sell, not just what they buy.
Paying Fees
EPR fees will be calculated based on the tonnage and type of textiles placed on the market. Fees are expected to be modulated by factors including:
- Durability — products designed to last longer may attract lower fees
- Recyclability — mono-fibre garments (100% cotton, 100% polyester) are easier to recycle than blends and may cost less
- Recycled content — using recycled fibres could reduce fee rates
- Hazardous substances — products containing PFAS or other chemicals that impede recycling may face surcharges
Eco-Design Requirements
Beyond financial obligations, producers may face requirements to improve the environmental design of their products. This could include minimum durability standards, restrictions on certain chemical treatments, mandatory recycled content thresholds, and requirements for design-for-disassembly (making it easier to separate different fibre types at end of life).
Labelling and Information
Enhanced labelling requirements are anticipated, potentially including fibre composition detail beyond current regulations, care instructions to extend product life, and information about end-of-life disposal options. Digital product passports — QR codes linking to detailed product information — are also being considered, aligned with the EU’s Digital Product Passport initiative.
How Textiles EPR Compares to Packaging EPR
If your business already complies with packaging EPR, many of the concepts and processes will be familiar. However, there are important differences.
| Aspect | Packaging EPR | Textiles EPR (Expected) |
|---|---|---|
| Status | In force (fees from April 2025) | Expected consultation 2025-2026 |
| Thresholds | £1M turnover + 25 tonnes | To be confirmed (likely similar model) |
| Reporting | Material type + weight + category | Product type + fibre composition + weight |
| Fee basis | Per tonne by material | Per tonne, modulated by durability and recyclability |
| Eco-design | Fee modulation from Year 2 | Likely built in from the start |
| Administrator | PackUK | To be appointed |
The key conceptual difference is that textiles are durable consumer goods with a useful life measured in years, whereas packaging is typically single-use. This means textiles EPR must account for reuse and repair as well as recycling — and the fee structure needs to incentivise longevity, not just material recyclability.
Steps to Prepare Now
Businesses that act early will be best positioned when textiles EPR comes into force. Here are the steps you should take today.
1. Understand your product range. Audit every textile product your business places on the UK market. Include clothing, accessories, footwear, household textiles, and any other fabric-based products. Know your volumes in units and, critically, in weight — EPR fees will be tonnage-based.
2. Start tracking fibre composition. EPR fees will almost certainly be modulated by fibre type. Start collecting and centralising data on the fibre composition of every product line. Pay particular attention to blended fabrics, which are harder to recycle and likely to attract higher fees.
3. Review your supply chain. Map where your textiles are manufactured, what materials are used, and how products reach the UK market. This information will be needed for reporting and will also reveal opportunities to reduce your EPR costs through better material choices.
4. Assess your eco-design opportunities. Consider how your products could be redesigned for durability, repairability, and recyclability. Switching from blended to mono-fibre fabrics, improving garment construction quality, and eliminating unnecessary chemical treatments are all steps that could reduce future EPR fees.
5. Budget for compliance costs. While fee rates are not yet confirmed, France’s Refashion scheme charges EUR 0.01 to EUR 0.06 per item depending on product category, with additional modulation for eco-design criteria. Use this as a rough benchmark to estimate potential costs for your product range.
6. Engage with consultations. When DEFRA publishes its consultation, respond. The more businesses that provide practical feedback on proposed requirements, the more workable the final regulations will be. Trade bodies such as the British Fashion Council and UK Fashion and Textile Association will also be coordinating industry responses.
7. Sign up for updates. Regulatory timelines can shift. Stay informed by signing up for alerts from DEFRA, WRAP, and industry bodies. We also cover all developments on our textiles EPR page, where you can find the latest news and analysis.
For a detailed, step-by-step preparation plan, read our guide on how to prepare for textiles EPR: 7 steps for UK businesses.
The Bigger Picture
Textiles EPR is part of a broader shift towards a circular economy for fashion and textiles. Alongside EPR, the UK government is considering measures such as a ban on textile waste exports to developing countries, mandatory due diligence requirements for supply chains, and targets for recycled content in new products.
For fashion brands and textile businesses, the message is clear: the era of producing cheap, disposable garments without accountability for their environmental impact is ending. Businesses that embrace circularity — designing for longevity, investing in take-back schemes, and preparing for EPR — will not only avoid compliance costs but will also build stronger, more resilient brands.
The transition will take time, but the direction of travel is unmistakable. Start preparing now, and you will be ahead of the curve when regulations arrive.
For more information on textiles EPR and how it may affect your business, visit our dedicated textiles EPR page. If you are already navigating packaging EPR, our complete guide to packaging EPR covers everything you need to know about the scheme that is already in force.
Stay updated on textiles EPR developments and be the first to know when consultation opens.