As a logistics and fulfilment partner to fashion and lifestyle brands, we understand that sustainability, compliance and operational excellence go hand in hand – and we are committed to supporting our clients in translating regulatory developments into practical actions across their supply chain.
The new EU rules on the handling and destruction of unsold products require most fashion and lifestyle brands to make changes to their supply chain processes. These changes come with significant operational and compliance obligations.
This guide has been prepared to help clients better understand the rules and to support internal discussions on how these requirements may affect business operations, returns handling, inventory management, and end-of-life decision-making.
It focuses on what you need to have in place to meet the rules – from how you classify and track unsold stock to how you handle returns, document exceptions and report publicly. Our aim is to assist you in delivering on your sustainability commitments and operational promises in a pragmatic and informed way.
However, it is important to note that this document is not a substitute for legal advice and is intended for guidance purposes only. The ultimate responsibility for determining whether these rules apply to your business, interpreting the legislation correctly and ensuring full compliance with all applicable legal requirements remains solely with the brand or economic operator placing products on the EU market.
Our aim is to provide practical insights with the aim of making implementation as straightforward as possible and support you operationally with tailored logistics solutions.
The guide assumes a working familiarity with the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). A separate guide on this topic is available on the Bleckmann website at ESPR compliance for fashion brands: Your guide to the ecodesign requirements
