EU second-hand textiles sector warns of structural crisis

A coalition of European NGOs and reuse operators, including Emmaüs Europe and RREUSE, has issued a joint statement highlighting mounting pressures on the EU second-hand textiles sector. Oversupply of low-quality fast fashion, rising operational costs and market saturation are squeezing social enterprises that collect, sort and resell textile goods.

The policy paper urges urgent regulatory action such as fair Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes, interim financial support, and policies that prioritise local reuse and waste prevention ahead of incineration to sustain jobs and circular flows across reuse networks. Without decisive intervention, key parts of the ecosystem risk collapse.

Source: Emmaüs Europe / RREUSE statement, published Jan 2026 (news release)