The EU banned large companies from destroying unsold clothing, shoes, and accessories effective today — a regulation targeting one of fashion's most wasteful practices, which generates roughly 5.6 million tonnes of CO₂ annually. Companies must now resell, donate, or prepare items for reuse instead. The move directly addresses overproduction in fast fashion, where an estimated 4-9% of textiles are discarded before reaching consumers, but enforcement depends on effective monitoring across member states and whether penalties are sufficient to deter violations.