Instead of discarding stock, companies are encouraged to manage their stock more effectively, handle returns, and explore alternatives such as resale, remanufacturing, donations, or reuse.
The ban on destruction of unsold apparel, clothing accessories and footwear and the derogations will apply to large companies from 19 July 2026. Medium-sized companies are expected to follow in 2030. The rules on disclosure under the ESPR already apply to large companies and will also apply to medium-sized companies in 2030.
I hope so because then I can hire a bunch of 3rd world children for 50 cents per month to gather up, match, repackage, and export to North America to re sell in sketchy ass discount liquidation stores in run down strip malls. Every 100k pair of pumas comes with one free baby sea turtle… hell, if sales are fast enough it might even still be alive.