EU Directive 2018/851 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018, which amended Directive 2008/98/EC on waste (Waste Framework Directive), introduced several provisions aimed at improving the re-use and recycling of waste, including textile waste, within the European Union and with a view to moving towards a circular economy.

One of the main new elements introduced by EU Directive 2018/851 is Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), a set of measures aimed at ensuring that producers take financial and organisational responsibility for the waste management phase of the products they place on the market.

One of the sectors affected by the directive is the textile industry, where a requirement was introduced whereby Member States must set up separate waste collection for textiles by 2025. In Italy, this requirement was brought forward to 1 January 2022 by Legislative Decree 116/2020.

For it to be enforceable, one or more implementing decrees must be issued. These decrees are currently being drafted by the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security.

Ecotessili is taking an active part in the drafting of the implementing decree in order to best represent the interests of its members in accordance with European law and environmental protection.