NANDO and the New EU Directive on Textile Waste 2025: What Changed on January 1st, 2025
The year 2025 marks a turning point in waste management across Europe, with the introduction of a new regulation on textile waste that came into force on January 1st, 2025. In particular, textile waste must now be collected separately, no longer discarded with general waste. This is a crucial step toward a more sustainable management of the textile sector, known for its high environmental impact. That’s why NANDO is stepping into this new EU textile waste directive 2025, offering technological solutions to make the collection process more efficient, transparent, and circular.
While for many EU countries 2025 marks the beginning of the new regulation, Italy has already taken the lead. In fact, thanks to Legislative Decree No. 116/2020, separate textile waste collection has been mandatory since January 1st, 2022, allowing time to test and refine collection systems. This early approach has helped raise awareness and develop a virtuous model that can now be shared with other European countries.
What is meant by “textile waste”?
When we talk about textile waste, we’re not just referring to used clothes or discarded garments. On the contrary, the definition is much broader and includes a wide range of items and materials, such as:
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Shoes
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Upholstery and furnishing fabrics
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Household linens
All of these items, once they’ve reached the end of their useful life, become potentially recoverable and recyclable, but only if managed correctly. That’s why effective separate collection is the first step to ensure that textiles don’t end up in incinerators or landfills, wasting valuable resources and contributing to environmental pollution.
It’s no coincidence that the European Union has decided to act with a clear and binding regulation. The textile sector is among the most environmentally damaging: it is estimated to be responsible for around 10% of global CO₂ emissions and consumes vast amounts of water, energy, and polluting chemicals during production. Reducing the amount of textiles sent to mixed waste is therefore an urgent environmental priority.
Reuse, recycling, and new opportunities
Once we collect textiles separately, we can direct them down different paths. We reuse clothes in good condition through donation networks or resale channels. We recycle damaged garments into new fibers or materials for use in industry, construction, or other manufacturing sectors.
This approach allows us to extend the life of materials, reduce the use of virgin raw materials, and limit the overall volume of waste produced. It’s a tangible step toward a circular economy, where the “end of life” of a product becomes the beginning of a new cycle.
Why a European textile waste directive is needed
One of the most important ongoing projects is active in the San Salvario district of Turin. The initiative aims to monitor and optimize the collection system through smart containers and digital dashboards.
In a recent LinkedIn post, we shared the results and potential of this collaboration, showing how digital tools can be the key to a more transparent, responsible, and effective collection system.
How NANDO supports the transition to textile waste separation
1. Increasing per capita collection volumes
By constantly analyzing drop-off data, NANDO helps intercept more textile waste, avoiding overloads, misplacement, and illegal dumping.
2. Full digitalization of waste flows
Every smart container records collection volumes in real time. This enables performance tracking, operational optimization, and regulatory compliance.
3. Better resource allocation
We relocate underused containers to higher-traffic areas, improving logistics and increasing the amount of materials recovered.
NANDO is not stopping here. We are developing automatic textile material recognition technologies to be used by collection workers. This will enable early identification of reusable garments, sorting of recyclable fibers, and separation of non-recoverable materials. The goal is to make textile waste treatment increasingly personalized, automated, and efficient, reducing waste and improving recovery quality.
A real opportunity for innovation
2025 is a turning point. The new EU regulation is not just an obligation—it’s an opportunity for innovation. It involves all stakeholders in waste management: municipalities, companies, citizens, and environmental actors.
Tackling this challenge requires technology, collaboration, and long-term vision. NANDO is ready to do its part. Our solutions are already operating on the ground, and our commitment is clear: to make textile waste management more digital, circular, and sustainable.
If you’re a municipality or environmental services provider, get in touch. We can help you implement a modern, efficient textile collection system that complies with the new European regulation.
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