Estonia To Introduce Producer Responsibility For Textiles By 2028
The Estonian government is moving to make producers of textiles, footwear and food products responsible for financing the collection, recycling and reduction of waste under proposed amendments to the country’s Waste Act.
The draft legislation, submitted by the Ministry of Climate for approval, aims to curb textile and food waste by introducing an extended producer responsibility (EPR) system while aligning Estonia’s waste management framework with the European Union’s updated Waste Framework Directive.
According to Minister of Infrastructure Kuldar Leis, the production of clothing and food places considerable pressure on the environment, with valuable resources often lost when usable products are discarded.
Estonia generates around 18,000 tonnes of textile waste annually, with volumes continuing to rise due to the rapid growth of fast fashion. Leis said the country’s current systems for separate collection and recycling are no longer adequate, making greater producer responsibility essential throughout the product lifecycle.
Under the proposal, Estonia will introduce mandatory EPR for textiles by 2028. Companies placing textiles, textile products or footwear on the Estonian market for the first time will be required to finance the collection, sorting and recycling of these products after use.
The obligation will also extend to e-commerce businesses selling within the European Union, irrespective of where they are registered. Producers will meet their responsibilities through dedicated producer responsibility organisations that will establish a nationwide textile waste collection network, providing consumers with free access to disposal facilities.
The ministry noted that similar EPR schemes are already in place across the EU for products such as electronics, batteries and tyres. Countries including Latvia, the Netherlands and France have successfully implemented comparable systems, where recycling costs amount to only a few cents per item without placing the financial burden on taxpayers.
The proposed legislation also introduces binding targets to reduce food waste. Estonia generated an average of 180,000 tonnes of food waste annually during 2021–2023. By 2030, the government aims to lower this figure to approximately 155,000 tonnes, including reducing waste from retail, food service and households to around 85,000 tonnes, while limiting food industry waste to 31,000 tonnes.
To achieve these targets, large retail, wholesale and food manufacturing companies will be required to monitor and report their food waste, prepare waste reduction plans and strengthen food donation efforts. Businesses will also be required to partner with at least one recognised food redistribution organisation to help divert surplus food from disposal.
The government believes the measures will not only reduce environmental impacts but also improve resource efficiency and lower operating costs for businesses through better waste management practices.
