On 14 February, EPR practitioners, industry leaders and other key stakeholders came together for a pivotal side session on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Textiles at the OECD Forum on Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear Sector. This session, hosted by Global Fashion Agenda, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, and the OECD, focused on fostering alignment across national EPR systems to advance a global circular economy for textiles.

Key topics covered during the event

• EPR has been rapidly proliferating in recent years, with countries adopting different approaches, from mandatory schemes to voluntary frameworks. A diverse and plural landscape of Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs) fosters collaboration and helps achieve ambitious environmental goals. Implementing EPR notably requires securing political support, learning from others, understanding local clothing consumption, and educating businesses and consumers.
• For EPR to thrive in the long term, consistent governmental action and cross-sector collaboration are required. The EU’s revised Waste Framework Directive marks an important step towards a more structured and unified approach. The textile recycling industry faces many challenges, including rising costs, reduced quality through ultra-fast fashion, and declining demand for second-hand clothing. In this context, EPR is key to addressing these challenges, notably by driving long-term investment in collection as well as recycling infrastructure.

“One challenge is that EPR is often perceived as a tax, even though it isn’t. Expect to invest significant effort in raising awareness about what EPR truly is, the benefits it brings, and its implications for businesses” – Sarah Njau, Managing Director, GFS East Africa.