Why Europe is banning the destruction of brand‑new clothes and what Australia can learn

Why Europe is banning the destruction of brand‑new clothes and what Australia can learn

Every year, tens of thousands of tonnes of unworn clothing are destroyed – burned, slashed or buried –  as part of routine retail practice. New EU rules have now banned the destruction of unsold garments, forcing brands to rethink how they manage excess stock.

Two RMIT experts unpack what the changes mean, why surplus clothing is such a large and hidden problem, and how Australia could adopt similar reforms.

Professor Alice Payne and Dr Yassie Samie, School of Fashion and Textiles:

  • Unsold stock – often called surplus, deadstock or excess inventory – is a major global issue. A European meta‑analysis found around 21 per cent of all clothing placed on the market is never sold.
  • The European Union has introduced rules banning the destruction of unsold clothing, requiring brands to redirect excess stock into resale, donation or other recovery pathways. 
  • Large retailers must now publicly disclose the volume of unsold stock they hold, with medium‑sized retailers joining from 2030.
  • Applying EU estimates to Australia suggests tens of thousands of tonnes of unworn clothing could be destroyed annually – representing wasted materials, energy and labour.
  • Local initiatives such as Thread Together and the Seamless clothing stewardship scheme show how redistribution, better forecasting and improved inventory management can reduce waste.
  • The EU model shows how regulation can create a level playing field, encouraging brands to design more durable, reusable and recyclable products.

Read more at The Conversation.

Professor Alice Payne is Dean of the School of Fashion and Textiles at RMIT University. Her research spans fashion systems, sustainability, circular economy design and clothing stewardship. She has contributed to national frameworks aimed at reducing textile waste and improving product lifecycle accountability.

Dr. Yassie Samie is a Postdoc Fellow at RMIT School of Fashion and Textiles, focusing on sustainable circular fashion and textiles ecosystems. Her research examines place-based and circular fashion systems, systemic transition, and textile waste prevention.  

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General media enquiries: RMIT External Affairs and Media, 0439 704 077 or news@rmit.edu.au

25 August 2026

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25 August 2026

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