matterr helps shape EU textile EPR design
- System Design Report on Extended Producer Responsibility for Textiles was presented in mid July, coordinated by Circular Republic and involving more than 20 stakeholders across the textile value chain.
- The EU is introducing mandatory EPR for textiles; Member States are translating requirements into national law and systems are expected to be operational by April 2028.
- The report recommends a recycling quota, recycled-content requirements under the ESPR, eco-modulated EPR fees to reward circular design, and a dedicated EPR innovation fund to de-risk capital-intensive recycling projects.
- matterr participated in the collaborative process and highlights that scaling recycling requires reliable material flows, demand for recyclates and significant investment in infrastructure as it advances toward its first small-scale industrial plant.
Report and process
The System Design Report on Extended Producer Responsibility for Textiles, coordinated by Circular Republic, was presented in mid July. The report was developed through a collaborative process that brought together more than 20 stakeholders from across the textile value chain.
Key recommendations
The report recommends introducing a recycling quota to secure reliable feedstock and signal investment in recycling capacity, complemented by recycled-content requirements under the ESPR to stimulate demand for recyclates. It also calls for eco-modulated EPR fees to reward circular product design and a dedicated EPR innovation fund to help de-risk capital-intensive projects and leverage private investment in recycling infrastructure.
Implications for scaling
matterr, a startup scaling toward its first small-scale industrial plant, contributed to the dialogue. The company emphasises that building recycling at scale requires reliable material flows, demand for recycled materials and significant investment in infrastructure, and views a well-designed EPR as a mechanism to create those conditions.
National implementation
With the EU introducing mandatory textile EPR, Member States are translating the requirements into national legislation. The new systems are expected to become operational by April 2028, and Germany is developing its national textile EPR system with an aim to catalyse a competitive, circular textile economy.
Source: matterr