The Irish government has launched a public consultation on its draft Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) delivery plan for textiles, marking a significant step toward implementing the European Union’s new textile waste legislation.
The consultation, led by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, will remain open until 9 September 2026. Under the revised EU Waste Framework Directive, Ireland is required to establish a mandatory textile EPR scheme by April 2028.
Ireland Faces High Textile Consumption and Waste
According to Ireland’s Circular Economy Strategy 2026–2028, the country has one of the highest textile consumption rates in the European Union, with an average of 53 kilograms of textiles consumed per person each year.
Approximately 35 kilograms of textiles per person are discarded annually—well above the EU average—resulting in more than 110,000 tonnes of textile waste every year. The strategy also notes that around 39% of Irish consumers purchase clothing on a weekly or monthly basis.
Producers to Fund Textile Waste Management
Under the proposed scheme, companies placing textile products on the Irish market will be required to register with a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) and pay fees to finance the collection, reuse and recycling of textile waste.
The fees will be determined through an eco-modulation system, meaning producers of more durable, repairable and recyclable products will pay lower fees, encouraging sustainable product design.
The scheme has been designed to align with Ireland’s existing EPR systems covering packaging, waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), batteries and tyres, helping to reduce administrative complexity for businesses.
Supporting Reuse and the Social Economy
A key objective of the proposed framework is to prioritize prevention and reuse before recycling while protecting Ireland’s well-established second-hand textile sector.
Ireland’s 432 charity shops diverted more than 11,300 tonnes of textiles from landfill and incineration in 2023 alone.
Under the draft plan, social enterprises involved in collecting and reusing textiles will be exempt from EPR obligations and allowed to continue operating their own collection systems. The Producer Responsibility Organisation will cover the cost of managing textile waste generated through these activities.
Part of Ireland’s Circular Economy Strategy
The consultation follows the publication of Ireland’s National Policy Statement and Roadmap on Circular Textiles 2026–2028, which outlines the country’s strategy for reducing textile waste and promoting circular business models.
Ireland must transpose the revised Waste Framework Directive into national legislation by June 2027, with the textile EPR scheme becoming fully operational by April 2028. Micro-enterprises will have an additional year, until April 2029, to comply.
Currently, France remains the only EU member state operating a nationwide textile EPR scheme, while countries including the Netherlands and Sweden are developing similar systems.
Industry experts say the implementation timeline provides businesses with an opportunity to prepare for the upcoming regulatory changes and adapt their operations to meet future compliance requirements
