On 12 June 2025, the European Commission published a draft implementing Regulation creating a common disclosure format for the discarding and destruction of unsold consumer products. The disclosure obligation focuses on the discarding of unsold consumer products for the purposes of any type of waste treatment operation including for reuse and recycling. Feedback on the draft implementing Regulation is invited until 10 July 2025.

Leading organisations, in furtherance of helping the European Union manage Europe’s most pressing environmental issues, published a joint position paper, ‘No Excuse for Destruction: RREUSE, ECOS and EEB’s stance on derogations to the apparel and footwear destruction ban,’ on 3 June 2025. The position paper has proposed various recommendations for the European Commission to follow regarding derogations to the apparel and footwear destruction ban.

Currently, just 1% of the world’s clothing material is recycled into new items. Budapest-based fashion company SLANGSLANG, with a 20-year history, aims to lead in sustainability. Founder and Creative Director Szonja Lang focuses on upcycling and recycling materials. She also collaborates with a number of Hong Kong’s leading fashion institutes, which have allowed her to explore the various new materials and technological innovations the city has on offer.

On April 16, 2025, the European Commission approved the first working plan under the ESPR. This plan places a focus on sectors such as textiles, furniture, tyres, mattresses, iron, steel, aluminium, and incorporates overarching criteria like repairability and recyclability. It is crucial for Hong Kong traders to stay vigilant, keeping track of evolving regulations, delegated acts, and product requirements to guarantee compliance with EU directives for goods destined for the European market.

As part of Horizon Europe, the European Commission has announced three new European partnerships, namely, in the field of textiles, photovoltaics and advanced materials . These areas have been proposed in the Horizon Europe strategic plan for 2025-2027. A fourth co-programmed partnership on virtual worlds is expected to be launched later in 2025.

This page lists the contact information of Hong Kong trade associations related to garments, textiles and accessories.

It was reported on 6 May 2025 that a recent Danish study found that most rain jackets bought from major online platforms – including Amazon, Shein, and Temu – contained PFAS chemicals, many at levels above EU legal limits and in some cases using types already banned in the EU.

A recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit will stand as an important precedent on the finality of liquidation and will prevent the federal government from seeking additional import duties when the statute of limitations on reliquidation has run. The decision was obtained by Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A. on behalf of a major retailer.

The Danish Ministry of the Environment announced last month that it will proceed with its planned national ban on the import and sale of PFAS in clothing, footwear, and consumer-use waterproofing agents for clothing and footwear. The Order will officially enter into force on 1 July 2025, with the ban becoming applicable from 1 July 2026.

EuroCommerce, which is said to be the leading European organisation representing the retail and wholesale sector, published a joint industry position paper on 19 March 2025, on a specific provision of the new Ecodesign for Sustainable Product Regulation (ESPR), namely, its Article 24. This provision introduces an obligation on large and medium-sized companies to disclose information on the discarding of unsold consumer products. The European Commission is mandated to adopt implementing acts setting out the details and format for the disclosure, including the delimitation of product groups and how to verify such information.