The European Commission is pushing forward with its Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), and textiles are a top priority in the first ESPR working plan textiles. In December 2022, the European Commission adopted the first ESPR working plan, which will guide new ecodesign requirements through 2024 and beyond. Currently, in mid-2025, key delegated acts for the textile sector are being drafted, with formal adoption expected between late 2025 and early 2026. For textile and footwear brands, this marks a major shift in how products will need to be designed, manufactured, and placed on the EU market. But it also brings opportunities for innovation and leadership.
What is the ESPR working plan for textiles?
The ESPR working plan textiles is part of a broader EU initiative to reduce the environmental footprint of products across the single market. The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) introduces new ecodesign requirements and sustainability standards that aim to foster a competitive circular economy.
The first ESPR working plan includes 30 product groups—textiles and footwear are among the sectors with significant environmental impacts and a top priority for the European Commission. The goal is to provide legal certainty and clear rules for industries, enabling them to shift towards more sustainable production while eliminating negative environmental impacts.
Why are textiles a top priority in the first ESPR working plan?
The textile sector is one of the most environmentally impactful sectors in Europe. It contributes heavily to waste generation, greenhouse gas emissions, water use, and the release of microplastics. The sector also makes extensive use of energy intensive intermediate products and hazardous chemicals.
By targeting textiles and footwear early in the ESPR process, the European Commission aims to drive investment in innovative materials, recycled content, and circular economy principles. It also signals strong EU support for industries ready to align with the European Union’s clean industrial deal and sustainable future ambitions.
What changes will the ESPR bring for textile brands?
The ESPR working plan textiles introduces ambitious sustainability requirements and ecodesign rules that will soon become mandatory through future delegated acts. These include:
- Minimum recycled content targets
- Restrictions on hazardous chemicals
- Rules on durability, reparability, and recyclability
- Measures to eliminate microplastic pollution
- Restrictions on destroying unsold consumer products
- Requirements to reduce energy consumption
Together, these changes aim to foster innovation, improve environmental sustainability, and benefit consumers by delivering higher quality, longer-lasting sustainable products.
How will the digital product passport help?
A key tool of the ESPR will be the Digital Product Passport (DPP), a requirement for all priority products including textiles, footwear, electrical and electronic equipment, and energy related products.
For textile value chains, the digital product passport will ensure that information on recycled content, sustainability requirements, and the environmental impact of products is easily accessible across the EU single market. This will provide legal certainty, help eliminate negative environmental impacts, and foster transparency for brands and consumers alike.
Which industries should be prepared?
The ESPR working plan textiles affects many concerned industries—from textile brands and footwear brands to suppliers of energy intensive products, recycled materials, and innovative materials.
The plan also impacts related sectors such as electrical and electronic equipment, energy related products, and intermediate products used in textiles and apparel. In short, any industry with significant environmental impacts large or small must now align with the EU’s ecodesign requirements.
How will the ESPR influence global competitiveness?
One of the European Commission’s aims is to create internationally competitive, sustainable products that benefit consumers and the planet. The ESPR working plan textiles is designed to drive quality jobs, foster innovation, and make the EU market a leader in the competitive circular economy.
Brands and manufacturers that align early with ESPR requirements will gain a first-mover advantage, helping them to compete more effectively both inside the EU single market and globally.
What does this mean for the footwear industry?
Footwear production is explicitly included in the first ESPR working plan. This sector faces many of the same challenges as textiles—high energy consumption, use of non-sustainable materials, and complex sectors with large waste generation.
By adopting circular economy principles, using more sustainable materials, and improving recycled content calculations, footwear brands can reduce their carbon and environmental footprints. The ESPR working plan textiles gives the footwear industry a clear framework for transformation.
What happens next?
The ESPR working plan textiles is now being followed by the development of future delegated acts, which will turn the plan’s guidelines into binding EU legislation. These acts will provide concrete measures and timelines for achieving the ESPR’s sustainability goals.
Brands should prepare by mapping their environmental footprint, investing in sustainable materials, recycled content, and eco-innovation, and adopting tools like the digital product passport.
A sustainable future for the textile sector
The ESPR working plan textiles marks a bold step towards eliminating negative environmental impacts and fostering a sustainable future for the textile and footwear industries. It addresses the entire value chain—from design and sourcing to production, use, and end-of-life management.
For textile brands that embrace these changes, the opportunity is clear: to lead the way in creating sustainable products that meet growing consumer demand, comply with future EU legislation, and contribute to an environmentally impactful sector that drives positive change.
