EU Takes Aim at Fast Fashion And Food Waste With New Binding Targets
Ireland faces binding EU targets to cut food waste 30% and tackle fast fashion by 2030 under new directive welcomed by Minister Dillon.
Ireland must reduce food waste by up to 30% and establish a textile producer responsibility scheme by 2028 under a revised EU directive that came into force this week, with Minister Alan Dillon describing the measures as a "gamechanger" for sustainability.
The revised EU Waste Framework Directive introduces legally binding food waste reduction targets to be achieved by 2030, alongside sweeping measures to tackle fast fashion and textile waste across member states. Ireland has until June 2027 to transpose the directive into national law.
Under the new rules, Ireland must cut food waste in processing and manufacturing by 10% compared to 2021-2023 levels, whilst reducing per capita food waste in retail, restaurants, and households by 30% over the same period. The European Commission will review these targets before the end of 2027, potentially extending requirements to other parts of the food supply chain.
Minister Alan Dillon, Minister of State for the Circular Economy, said:
"Tackling food and textile waste is a key step that we can take to achieve sustainability, to help combat climate change, and to support the transition to a circular economy. The entry into force of this revised Directive marks a significant milestone that will accelerate efforts to achieve these objectives."
The directive also targets the environmental impact of fast fashion through the "polluter pays principle", making the fashion industry responsible for its textile waste. Ireland must establish an Extended Producer Responsibility scheme for textiles by April 2028, which will support efficient collection, sorting, reuse, and recycling whilst encouraging eco-design of textile products.
Member states will be required to implement specific prevention measures, including behavioural change programmes, addressing inefficiencies in food supply chains, supporting training and innovation, and promoting surplus food donation.
Minister Dillon's department will soon prepare the next iteration of Ireland's National Food Waste Prevention Roadmap, with stakeholder consultation planned before its 2026 publication. Work has also begun on a National Policy Statement and Roadmap on Circular Textiles, with a Textiles Extended Producer Responsibility Roadmap due for consultation early next year.
Minister Dillon added:
"I believe that the revised Directive, backed up with our policy approach, will be a gamechanger in helping to reduce food waste, curb fast fashion trends, boost the reuse and recycling of textiles, and reduce the environmental footprint of food waste generation and the textile sector."
For Cork residents, the changes could mean increased textile recycling facilities, more options for donating surplus food, and new responsibilities for retailers and manufacturers to reduce waste at source. The measures aim to shift Ireland towards a more circular economy where resources are reused rather than discarded.
