Germany is currently developing a national Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system for textiles – in response to the revised Waste Framework Directive (Directive 2008/98/EC) adopted in March 2025. This development provides an opportunity to systematically align national textile waste policy with the principles of sustainability, social justice, and global responsibility.

While the EU’s EPR framework offers a valuable foundation, the existing models in Germany and across Europe are still insufficient to fully address the economic, environmental, and social impacts of textile waste management – both within Europe and in the Global South.

As a non-profit organisation committed to a future-proof, just, and circular textile economy, Circular Berlin views the development of the EPR regulation as a crucial step forward. Its implementation in Germany offers the chance to establish binding frameworks and effectively close existing gaps in waste and product responsibility.