Stakeholder Consultation on Textiles Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Delivery Plan

The aim of this consultation is to seek views on a draft Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Delivery Plan for textiles.

The EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles was published in March 2022. In line with the Strategy, a proposal to revise the EU Waste Framework Directive that would require the mandatory adoption of Textiles EPR schemes was published in July 2023. The revised Waste Framework Directive entered into force on 16 October 2025.

The Directive sets out a comprehensive suite of measures aimed at addressing fast fashion and the environmental impacts associated with textile waste. It reinforces the application of the "polluter pays" principle, thereby making the textile industry responsible for the management of its textile waste. The establishment of an EPR scheme for textiles is intended to support efficient collection, sorting, reuse and recycling, while incentivising the eco-design of textile products.

This Directive must be transposed into Irish law by 17 June 2027, with the EPR scheme established by 17 April 2028. EPR obligations will apply to micro-enterprises from 17 April 2029.

It is in this context that the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment has now prepared a draft EPR Delivery Plan and is seeking views from interested parties through a technical stakeholder consultation. It is aimed at those working in the textile industry. This consultation will help inform the final content of the Plan.

The purpose of this EPR Delivery Plan is to provide support in delivering on the legal obligations as set out in the revised EU Waste Framework Directive with respect to textiles. The Plan will also assist in delivering on our policy commitments in the Whole of Government Circular Economy Strategy 2026-2028 and in the National Policy Statement and Roadmap on Circular Textiles 2026-2028.

This Delivery Plan outlines the key elements of a mandatory textiles EPR scheme in Ireland. It also delineates the actions required for the effective design and implementation of a national textiles EPR scheme and the establishment of an associated Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) in Ireland to ensure alignment with the waste hierarchy and circular economy principles.

This draft Plan has been informed by stakeholder engagement undertaken by the department in 2024 and 2025 and by feedback received from various stakeholders during the public consultation conducted in 2025 regarding the National Policy Statement and Roadmap on Circular Textiles.

The draft EPR Delivery Plan is available for download below. Submissions are welcome from key stakeholders across the textile value chain, in particular textile producers and industry representative bodies. The department will consider all feedback before publishing the final version of the EPR Delivery Plan.

The closing date for submissions is 5.30pm on Wednesday, 9 September 2026

Submissions can be made by email to CircularEconomyConsultations@dcee.gov.ie or by post to:

Textiles EPR Delivery Plan Technical Stakeholder Consultation,

Circular Economy Materials Management Section,

Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment,

Newtown Road,

Wexford,

Y35 AP90.

We are committed to engaging with stakeholders in a clear, open and transparent manner. Any person or organisation can make a submission in relation to this consultation. We will consider all submissions and feedback before we publish the final version of the Delivery Plan.

Your response to this consultation is subject to:

• the Freedom of Information Act 2014 (FOI)
• the Access to Information on the Environment Regulations 2007-2018 (AIE)
• the Data Protection Act 2018

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