Sweden Producentansvar för textil (Textile EPR)
Governmental Agency: Swedish Government
Jurisdiction: Sweden
Ref no: SOU 2020:72
Status: ADOPTED January 2022
In December 2020, the Swedish government announced that it would be introducing extended producer responsibility (EPR) for textiles. There are two main purposes stated for introducing EPR for textiles: increased environmental benefit, and for the producers to bear the cost of managing the waste generated by their products.
It was stated that the legislation would enter into force on the 1st of January 2022, with a transition period of two years (until 1 January 2024) for producers to ensure that all textile waste collections are delivered through licenced collection systems. However, as of December 2022, the latest official communication from the Swedish government was that the bill is still being prepared. As such, it is unclear if these original stated timelines will be met.
The scheme will be introduced for all clothes, household and interior textiles, bags and accessories. Key desired outcomes of the scheme include:
- Waste Disposal Reduction Targets: in 2028 the average is to have decreased by 70%, in 2032 by 80%, and in 2036 by 90% (in other words a 70, 80 and 90 separate collection rate respectively).
- Preparation for Reuse & Recycling Target: From 2028 onwards, at least 90% of the textile waste collected by the collection system by weight is to be prepared for reuse or be sent for recycling.
- Behaviour Change: Provide communications to textile consumers to incentivise behaviour change e.g. information on collection systems, waste prevention, environmental impact etc.
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"Starting in 2024, the EPR policy will oblige those designated as textile "producers" to ensure that licenced textile collection systems are in place and available to all Swedish citizens and businesses that produce textile waste. They must also notify the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency of this. Obligated " producers" include:
- Any entity established in Sweden that professionally manufactures, sells, hires out or imports and releases textiles on the Swedish market.
- Any entity not established in Sweden that, through a distance selling contract, professionally sells textiles directly to private households or to end users other than private households in Sweden.
Producers must also ensure that collection systems utilised are adequate, i.e. provide easily accessible collection points that are operated in a way that encourages preparation for re-use and material recycling. It will also be up to producers to decide how the targets set by the legislation will be met.
Citizens and businesses will also be obliged to use these systems to ensure textile waste is separately collected.