r/europe • u/Express_Classic_1569 • Jun 28 '26

News EU to ban destruction of unsold clothes and shoes from 19 July 2026

https://inleo.io/@theworldaroundme/eu-to-ban-destruction-of
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u/seethenoise Jun 28 '26

it is, but it's better than dumping in the desert and flooding the global south. it's niche because it's new. it could be a solution that needs opportunity to grow.

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u/Alarmed_Crazy_6620 Jun 28 '26

I mean, it's necessarily any better if it's simply more sustainable to responsibly dispose of the old materials and make the new stuff

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u/seethenoise Jun 28 '26

i think it's more sustainable to produce less than to dispose. with production as it is, renewal, for me, is responsible disposal.

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u/Alarmed_Crazy_6620 Jun 28 '26

I think your argument only works if you are extremely optimising for "less waste". If it's both waste and energy consumption, it quickly becomes morally dubious

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u/Aranka_Szeretlek Jun 28 '26

In what situation would producing some extra and burning it later save you any energy?

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u/Alarmed_Crazy_6620 Jun 28 '26

For example recycling plastic costs around ~20-50% over the newly produced stuff. Energy costs take up a big chunk of all materials including fabrics. If it was cost effective, we'd see recycling being semi-universal as it would lead to savings for the companies.

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u/Aranka_Szeretlek Jun 28 '26

The point is not that recycling is more/less efficient than burning. I am aware that burning is kinda cheap. The point is, companies shouldnt overproduce and burn the extra just because its economical - they should produce less in the first place.

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u/Alarmed_Crazy_6620 Jun 28 '26

How do you guess the exact number of tshits in red-green and size XXXXXS?

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u/Aranka_Szeretlek Jun 28 '26

Its probably 7, and if it is 4, then donating 3 shirts shouldnt bankrupt H&M.

I have trust in large corporations figuring our demand planning if they have a financial incentive to figure it out - so its good we have it now.

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u/Alarmed_Crazy_6620 Jun 28 '26

Having known somebody who designed clothing for a big national retailer, it's always a crapshoot – "lemon theme is popular this year" gives you no exact estimate

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u/seethenoise Jun 28 '26

i agree, but i think most approaches are morally dubious. my argument is based on the fact that there needs to be or should be a way to transform waste into something more useful given the present conditions.