New Textile Legislation in Germany – Momentum Builds Towards an EPR System for Textile Waste Streams

Germany is set to introduce new textile legislation by summer 2027. In future, producers and distributors will be required to assume greater responsibility for what happens to textiles after use — from collection and sorting through to reuse, recycling and recovery. 

The new textile legislation will lay the foundations for an extended producer responsibility (EPR) system for textiles, which will become mandatory across all EU Member States following the revision of the EU Waste Framework Directive. By April 2028, key elements will need to be in place, including registration procedures, reporting obligations, financing mechanisms, collection and recovery structures, and enforcement tools. 

The path towards Germany’s new textile legislation is already taking shape: in March 2026, the Federal Ministry for the Environment published a key issues paper providing an initial political framework. The paper outlines central questions around the organisation, financing and allocation of responsibilities for a future EPR system for textiles. A ministerial draft bill is expected in July.