The EU's new rules are intended to reduce the destruction of unsold products and increase reuse, donation and resale. Gustatempe helps companies find new markets for excess stock and returns.
A clear step toward more reuse
Starting July 19, 2026, it will be prohibited for large companies in the EU to destroy unsold clothes, shoes and clothing accessories. The European Commission has now clarified which exemptions apply and how companies should handle products that can no longer be sold.
The ban is part of the EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and aims to reduce resource waste, increase reuse and strengthen the circular economy. Instead of destroying unsold products, companies must first examine the possibility of selling, repairing, remanufacturing or donating them.
Here are the exemptions
The European Commission has identified a number of situations where destruction may still be permitted:
- Products that pose a safety or health risk.
- Products that do not comply with legal requirements or have been recalled from the market.
- Products that infringe intellectual property rights, such as counterfeits.
- Products covered by licence or contractual terms that prevent resale.
- Products where labels or identifying information cannot reasonably be removed.
- Damaged, contaminated or hygiene-compromised products.
- Products with serious manufacturing or design defects.
Donation must be considered first
Before destruction is allowed, companies must be able to show that they have tried to find alternative solutions. Products must be offered to relevant recipients or donation organisations before destruction can become an option.
The new rules also introduce higher requirements for documentation and traceability. Companies that send products to waste treatment must be able to explain why the products could not be reused or resold.
Gustatempe: Resale is also circular economy
Many companies focus on donation and recycling, but according to Gustatempe there is often one more step to take before products risk becoming waste.
"The new rules are an important step toward a more circular economy. In addition to donation and reuse, there are often good opportunities to resell excess stock, returns and unsold products. At Gustatempe, we help companies find new markets for products that would otherwise risk becoming waste. That creates both economic and environmental value," says Jimmy Ingvarsson at Gustatempe.
By giving products a new life on secondary markets, companies can reduce waste, strengthen their sustainability profile and at the same time generate revenue from goods that might otherwise be destroyed.
A clear step toward more reuse
The ban on destroying unsold products marks a shift from traditional waste handling to resource management. For companies, this means new requirements, but also new opportunities to develop circular business models where products are used longer and resources are managed in a more sustainable way.
