The Union Council European and the European Parliament have reached a political agreement to reduce the waste of food and the waste textiles In the union Europeanwhere 60 million tons of food waste and 12.6 million tons are generated annually textiles.
The two European collegislators agreed to introduce goals binding of reduction of the waste of food which must be fulfilled at the national level before December 31, 2030.
The agreement, which must be formally ratified by the Council and Parliament, contemplates a reduction 10 % in the prosecution and the manufacture of food and 30 % per capita in the trade Retail, restaurants, food services and households, reported the Council and Parliament in two communications.
These goalswhich are the first to be established at the level of the EUthey would be calculated compared to the amount generated as an annual average between 2021 and 2023.
The agreement also provides for the donation volunteer of food not sold that are safe for human consumption as an important aspect to reduce the waste of food.
Textile waste
The provisional agreement also establishes standards harmonized about the responsibility Extended producer of producers textiles and fashion brands, which will be responsible for their waste And they must pay a rate to help finance the collection and the treatment of wastewhich will depend on how circular and sustainable the design of your product is.
Are Rates They would apply 30 months after the entry into force of the Directive. For their part, microenterprises would have to meet the requirements 12 months later.
Member States may also adapt the rates paid by producers based on the time of use of products textiles and of its durability, with the aim of combating excessive generation of waste in the textile sector and ultra -grape and rapid fashion, and thus avoid that products textiles They are discarded before they reach their potential useful life.
These provisions would apply to all producers, including those who use tools for trade electronic and regardless of whether they are established in a country of the EU or out of it.
The new ones standards will apply to products such as clothing and accessories, footwearblankets, clothes of bed and kitchen, curtains and hats.
The future European law also gives the possibility that the countries of the EU can establish systems of responsibility Expanded of mattress manufacturers.
In data
Every year, in the EU almost 60 million tons are generated waste food (132 kg per person) and 12.6 million tons of waste textiles.
Only the clothes and the footwear They represent 5.2 million tons of wasteequivalent to 12 kg of waste per person per year. It is estimated that less than 1% of all textiles of the world are recycled to manufacture new products.
In July 2023, the Commission European proposed a review of the standards of the EU about wastefocused on waste food and textiles.
According to them standards in force, the countries of the EU They were already obliged to establish the collection selective products textiles As of January 1, 2025.
