{
 "url": "https://activatedigital.ai/knowledge/regulation/destroying-unsold-stock",
 "title": "EU Ban on Destroying Unsold Textiles: What Applies from 19 July 2026",
 "description": "Large enterprises can no longer destroy covered unsold apparel and footwear under ESPR. See scope, SME timing, disclosure and what to do now.",
 "territory": "reg",
 "category": null,
 "direct_answer": "**From [19 July 2026](https://activatedigital.ai/knowledge/data), Article 25 of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation prohibits large enterprises from destroying the unsold apparel, clothing accessories and footwear listed in Annex VII.**",
 "last_verified": "2026-09-03",
 "verified_label": "Last verified",
 "datePublished": "2026-09-03",
 "dateModified": "2026-09-03",
 "legislation": [
  {
   "@id": "https://activatedigital.ai/knowledge/digital-product-passport#legislation-32024r1781",
   "celex": "32024R1781",
   "name": "Regulation (EU) 2024/1781, ESPR",
   "legislationDate": "2024-06-13"
  },
  {
   "@id": "https://activatedigital.ai/knowledge/regulation/destroying-unsold-stock#legislation-32026r0002",
   "celex": "32026R0002",
   "name": "Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2",
   "legislationDate": "2026-02-09"
  }
 ],
 "primary_sources": [
  {
   "url": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:C_202601806",
   "name": "Commission notice on the relationship between Article 25 ESPR and French unsold-product rules"
  }
 ],
 "glossary_terms": [
  "https://activatedigital.ai/knowledge/glossary#delegated-act",
  "https://activatedigital.ai/knowledge/glossary#digital-product-passport",
  "https://activatedigital.ai/knowledge/glossary#espr",
  "https://activatedigital.ai/knowledge/glossary#implementing-act",
  "https://activatedigital.ai/knowledge/glossary#unique-product-identifier"
 ],
 "watch": [],
 "decisions": [
  {
   "state": "operator declares",
   "point": "Why a product left saleable stock, and what happened to it",
   "because": "The prohibition has applied to large enterprises since 19 July 2026 and the record is what shows a destruction route was lawful."
  }
 ],
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  "html": "https://activatedigital.ai/knowledge/regulation/destroying-unsold-stock",
  "markdown": "https://activatedigital.ai/knowledge/regulation/destroying-unsold-stock.md",
  "json": "https://activatedigital.ai/knowledge/regulation/destroying-unsold-stock.json"
 }
}