Dutch Fashion EPR: How producer organisations drive responsibility
Urgency: The 2025 & 2030 circularity targets
The Dutch fashion industry faces a critical deadline: by 2025, at least 50% of the weight of textiles placed on the market the previous year must be prepared for reuse or recycled. These targets increase annually, reaching at least 75% by 2030. These ambitious targets highlight the urgent need for fashion brands to embrace circular business models. However, many producers have not yet registered with an EPR organisation, even though it is a legal requirement.
With potential fines on the horizon and fees expected to increase in 2025, the financial and regulatory risks are growing. More importantly, EPR fees should stimulate circularity—encouraging initiatives like repair, resale, rental, and upcycling before resorting to recycling.
Urgency: The 2025 & 2030 circularity targets
The Dutch fashion industry faces a critical deadline: by 2025, at least 50% of the weight of textiles placed on the market the previous year must be prepared for reuse or recycled. These targets increase annually, reaching at least 75% by 2030. These ambitious targets highlight the urgent need for fashion brands to embrace circular business models. However, many producers have not yet registered with an EPR organisation, even though it is a legal requirement.
With potential fines on the horizon and fees expected to increase in 2025, the financial and regulatory risks are growing. More importantly, EPR fees should stimulate circularity—encouraging initiatives like repair, resale, rental, and upcycling before resorting to recycling.
Who must comply with EPR textiles?
Do you import or produce textiles for the Dutch market? And are you the first to place these products on the market? Then the EPR applies to you. The EPR regulations apply to all producers and importers in the fashion and textile sector—from the largest fashion chains to the smallest boutiques. (for more info, check this link)
EPR textiles: What should I do?
You have two options: join a producer organisation (which we highly recommend) or manage waste processing independently.
To help you make an informed decision, let's take a closer look at the three EPR producer organisations in the Netherlands and what you need to know about them.
Do you import or produce textiles for the Dutch market? And are you the first to place these products on the market? Then the EPR applies to you. The EPR regulations apply to all producers and importers in the fashion and textile sector—from the largest fashion chains to the smallest boutiques. (for more info, check this link)
EPR textiles: What should I do?
You have two options: join a producer organisation (which we highly recommend) or manage waste processing independently.
To help you make an informed decision, let's take a closer look at the three EPR producer organisations in the Netherlands and what you need to know about them.
Upcoming challenges & 2025 fee increases
The future of EPR & circular fashion in the Netherlands
The success of Dutch fashion EPR depends on collaboration between producer organisations, brands, circular solution providers, recyclers, and policymakers. With 50% of textiles needing to be reused or recycled by 2025 (increasing to 75% by 2030), producers should act now to ensure they are on the right side of compliance and sustainability.
EPR should not just be about meeting legal obligations—it should stimulate true circularity. Brands must move beyond recycling and embrace repair, resale, rental, and upcycling to reduce textile waste at the source. The right EPR system should actively support and incentivize these initiatives, ensuring that fees drive circular change rather than just covering end-of-life processing.
If your company hasn’t registered yet, now is the time to choose the right EPR producer organisation and contribute to a truly circular fashion future. If you have any comments or questions, drop us a message at rachel@rethinkrebels.com.
PS: Are you producing in other (EU/UK/USA) countries? Then you should check out the Global Fashion Agenda's mapping report on global EPRs to get a broader view of how different countries are implementing EPR in the fashion industry: Mapping of Global Extended Producer Responsibility for Textiles (EPR)
- Fee percentages will rise as more partners are needed and recycling costs increase.
- Eco-modulation should be introduced ASAP to reward circular business models (e.g., repair, resale, rental, upcycling, and lastly, recycling) – this is currently missing.
- Strict enforcement expected in 2025: Companies may face fines if they don’t comply.
The future of EPR & circular fashion in the Netherlands
The success of Dutch fashion EPR depends on collaboration between producer organisations, brands, circular solution providers, recyclers, and policymakers. With 50% of textiles needing to be reused or recycled by 2025 (increasing to 75% by 2030), producers should act now to ensure they are on the right side of compliance and sustainability.
EPR should not just be about meeting legal obligations—it should stimulate true circularity. Brands must move beyond recycling and embrace repair, resale, rental, and upcycling to reduce textile waste at the source. The right EPR system should actively support and incentivize these initiatives, ensuring that fees drive circular change rather than just covering end-of-life processing.
If your company hasn’t registered yet, now is the time to choose the right EPR producer organisation and contribute to a truly circular fashion future. If you have any comments or questions, drop us a message at rachel@rethinkrebels.com.
PS: Are you producing in other (EU/UK/USA) countries? Then you should check out the Global Fashion Agenda's mapping report on global EPRs to get a broader view of how different countries are implementing EPR in the fashion industry: Mapping of Global Extended Producer Responsibility for Textiles (EPR)
Author
Rachel Cannegieter
Sustainability & Circularity Board Advisor | Fashion & ESG Expert | Founder, Circular Impact Consultancy RethinkRebels | CSRD | GRI | B Corp Leader | Driving sustainable leadership, strategic impact & lasting change.