France was the first country to introduce mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility for textiles. As the EU moves closer to wider textile EPR requirements, France offers an important case study for how producer responsibility can apply to the fashion and textile sector. This article will outline the Textile EPR scheme in France.
Textiles EPR in France: Purpose
France introduced Extended Producer Responsibility for textiles in 2007, creating the first dedicated legal framework for textile waste management under Environmental Code Art. L541-10-3.
The original aim was to fund the collection and sorting of discarded textiles based on the “producer pays” principle. Since then, the scheme has developed into a wider circular economy tool, encouraging producers to consider durability, recyclability, recycled content and end-of-life management.
France’s textiles EPR framework is overseen by the French authorities, with Refashion acting as the approved Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) responsible for managing the scheme on behalf of most producers.
Textile Products in Scope
The French textiles EPR scheme applies to a broad range of consumer textile products placed on the French market. These are generally grouped into three categories:
- Clothing
- Household linen
- Footwear
These categories are then divided by product type and size, which is important for reporting and fee calculation.
The scheme applies in mainland France and certain French overseas territories, including Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Reunion Island, Mayotte, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon and Saint-Martin.
Potential exemptions:
- Certain products may fall outside the scope of the scheme depending on their material composition and regulatory classification.
- Certain products made entirely from previously contributed materials may qualify for specific exemptions or reduced obligations, subject to applicable Refashion rules and supporting evidence.
Businesses should assess product scope carefully against current Refashion guidance.
Who Must Comply?
Any business placing relevant textile products on the French market may need to comply. This includes:
- French manufacturers and brands
- Importers and distributors
- Non-French EU businesses selling into France
- Non-EU businesses selling directly to French consumers online
- Distance sellers and online retailers
There is no minimum threshold, meaning businesses can be obligated regardless of the number of products they place on the French market.
Online sellers are treated in the same way as businesses with a physical presence in France. Where a foreign business sells directly to consumers in France, it may need to appoint a French-based authorised representative.
Obligations of Textile Producers
Textile producers covered by the French scheme must register, report and pay fees. They may also need to meet labelling, record-keeping and eco-design requirements.
Key obligations include:
- Registering with Refashion.
- Signing a membership agreement.
- Obtaining a Unique Identification Number, often referred to as a UID or UIN.
- Declaring annual volumes of clothing, household linen and footwear placed on the French market.
- Paying EPR eco-fees based on product categories and volumes.
- Displaying the Triman logo and sorting information where required.
- Keeping records to support declarations and audits.
- Preparing and maintaining a prevention and eco-design plan where required under French EPR rules.
- Complying with restrictions on the destruction of unsold textiles and footwear, including prioritising reuse, donation, repair or recycling where required.
The UID is an important compliance marker. Once issued, it must appear on relevant business documents, including invoices, terms and conditions and websites.
Refashion: the PRO in France
Refashion is the approved PRO for France’s textiles EPR scheme. Previously known as Eco TLC, it manages the operational side of the scheme on behalf of its members.
Its role includes collecting producer declarations, calculating fees, supporting textile collection and sorting infrastructure, funding reuse and recycling activities, and transferring required data to the French authorities.
For producers, Refashion acts as the main compliance route. By joining Refashion, producers can transfer their collective EPR obligations to the organisation, provided they submit accurate data and pay the required eco-fees.
Refashion also supports wider circular economy measures, including repair, reuse, recycling, research and development, and consumer communication around textile sorting.
EPR Modulated Fees
France’s textiles EPR scheme uses eco-modulated fees. This means the amount a producer pays can be adjusted depending on the environmental characteristics of the product.
The standard EPR fee is the base contribution paid when placing clothing, footwear or household linen on the French market. Eco-modulation then adjusts this fee upwards or downwards depending on factors such as durability, recyclability and material composition.
Bonuses may be available for products with stronger environmental performance. These can include products that:
- meet durability criteria,
- carry recognised environmental certifications,
- or incorporate recycled raw materials, particularly post-consumer textile waste.
Penalties may apply where a product creates barriers to recycling.
This could include:
- design choices,
- materials or components that make sorting or recycling more difficult.
Eco-modulation is not automatic. Producers must declare eligible products through the appropriate Refashion process and provide supporting evidence, such as:
- documentation on recycled content,
- material origin,
- product composition or,
- certification status.
Key Deadlines
For the 2026 declaration period:
- 14 January to 28 February 2026: declaration of actual volumes placed on the French market in 2025
- 14 January to 31 March 2026: invoicing and payment period
- 31 March 2026: final payment deadline
(based on current Refashion guidance)
The payment period covers the balance of the 2025 eco-fee call for funds, based on 2025 sales, and the 2026 eco-fee call for funds, based on estimated 2026 sales.
Why France Matters for Textile EPR
France provides one of the most established examples of textiles EPR in practice. Its scheme shows how producer responsibility can apply beyond packaging and electrical goods to a sector facing growing scrutiny over waste, overproduction and end-of-life management.
For fashion brands, importers and online sellers, the French model shows that textile compliance is no longer limited to product safety or labelling. Businesses must also understand how their products are reported, how eco-fees are calculated, and how design choices may affect future costs.
As more countries develop textile EPR rules, France is likely to remain an important reference point for how textile waste policy can be structured, funded and enforced.
