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Textile and leather products, production processes and working conditions are subject to varying global laws. Here you can find a summary of the most important EU regulations.

Corporate Due Diligence Obligations

Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD)

The CSDDD is an EU directive that obliges large companies to respect human rights and comply with environmental standards throughout their supply chain. The aim is to promote sustainable and responsible business practices. Companies must identify and assess risks and take measures to counteract negative impacts.

In concrete terms, this means:

  • Taking into account all measurable environmental impacts such as harmful soil changes, harmful emissions, excessive water consumption and other impacts on natural resources.

Companies should prepare to fully implement the CSDDD requirements by July 2029.

In addition to the EU directive, there are other national regulations, for example:

  • Duty of Vigilance Act (France)
  • Child Labour Due Diligence Act (Netherlands)

Due diligence obligations in the supply chain

What do due diligence obligations mean in supply chains?

Companies bear responsibility for human rights and the environment – not only for their own business activities, but also for those of their business partners. When identifying risks in the supply chain, companies can focus on areas where actual or potential negative impacts are most likely to occur. Potential negative impacts that are equally likely or severe in several areas may be prioritised for the derivation of measures.

Due diligence obligations include the following in detail:

  • Regular risk analysis, prioritisation and disclosure
  • Development of guidelines and prevention mechanisms
  • Immediate mitigation and remediation of negative impacts
  • Establishment of secure communication channels for stakeholders
  • Public reporting on the fulfilment of due diligence obligations

Our solutions for your business

We offer tailored support to meet your due diligence requirements:

Customised consulting
Analysis
Certification
Circular Economy

Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)

The PPWR introduces, for the first time, EU-wide requirements that are directly applicable to the placing of packaging on the EU market, covering the entire life cycle from design to recycling. The Regulation replaces the previous Packaging Directive 94/62/EC and thus closes a key gap in the EU’s circular economy strategy. 

 

New requirements apply from 12 August 2026. These include, amongst other things, the following provisions: 

  • Substance restrictions: 

    • Limit values for heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury, chromium VI: total: max. 100 mg/kg).

    • Limit values for PFAS in packaging intended to come into contact with food: a maximum of 25 ppb per individual substance and a total of 250 ppb. In addition, a limit value of 50 ppm applies to PFAS (including polymeric PFAS). If the total fluorine content exceeds 50 mg/kg, evidence of the proportion of fluorine present as PFAS or non-PFAS must be provided on request. 

  • Conformity assessment by manufacturers: Obligation to carry out conformity assessment, to be demonstrated by technical documentation and an EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC)  

  • Information requirements for manufacturers/importers: including identification marking, name/brand and postal address on the packaging 

 

In the coming years, further requirements will come into force, for example regarding the proportion of recycled content, recyclability and packaging labelling. Detailed information can be found on the EU website on the PPWR. 

 

These initial steps are now important for you:  

  1. Get an overview of your packaging 

  2. Definingyour own role 

  3. Conformityassessment  

  4. Chemical testing 

  5. Preparing for futurerequirements 

 

Our solutions 

Please contact us if you need support with implementing the PPWR.  

  • Chemical testing 

  • Labelling check 

  • Implementation strategy 

Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP)

A key component of the EU Green Deal is the transition to a circular economy and the gradual elimination of single-use products. In future, products must be designed to be reusable, repairable and recyclable – and to have as little environmental impact as possible throughout their entire life cycle.

Waste management

Legal developments such as the Waste Framework Directive (WFD) set clear priorities: waste prevention is the top priority. It is therefore crucial to pay attention to circular economy principles as early as the design phase.

Extended producer responsibility (EPR) obliges brands to bear the costs of collecting, sorting and recycling their products, especially textiles. These regulations vary from country to country and are part of the Waste Directive and the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles. In order to meet legal requirements, companies must optimise their waste management systems and ensure that materials are reused rather than disposed of wherever possible.

Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR)

The Ecodesign Regulation also aims to improve the circular economy, energy efficiency and other environmental aspects of products:

As part of the Ecodesign Regulation, a digital product passport is therefore planned, which requires, among other things, the availability of data on supply chain partners and environmental data.

Our solutions for promoting the circular economy:

Product durability
Biodegradation of chemicals
Certified chemicals
Biodegradation of textiles
Tests for harmful substances
Responsible production
Co2 footprint
Sustainable Design

Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR)

The EU Ecodesign Regulation aims to make products more sustainable, durable and recyclable. It promotes the circular economy and sets new standards for resource efficiency and ecological product design.

Requirements:

Our solutions for supporting sustainable design:

Product durability
Biodegradation of chemicals
Certified chemicals
Biodegradation of textiles
Tests for harmful substances
Responsible production
Co2 footprint
Environmental impact

Zero Pollution Action Plan

The Zero Pollution Action Plan is a key initiative of the European Commission as part of the European Green Deal. The aim is to create an environment by 2050 in which air, water and soil pollution is reduced to levels that respect health, ecosystems and planetary boundaries.

We offer various solutions to improve environmental impact in a sustainable manner:

Certified chemicals
Biodegradation of chemicals
Tests for harmful substances
Fibre release during washing
Product durability
Water and Co2 footprint
Responsible production
Due diligence obligations
Transparency

Product Labelling and Digital Product Passport (DPP)

For the EU Green Deal, the circular economy and thus transparency of the actors involved in the supply chain is one of the key factors.

As part of the digital product passport, the following product-specific information, among other things, is to be disclosed in future:

  • Origin of materials
  • Manufacturing processes
  • Life cycle and disposal of products
  • Repair options
  • Recyclability

We already offer solutions for products with transparent origins and traceable supply chains:

Supply chain transparency
Organically grown fibres
OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 for recycled materials

Automated data exchange between suppliers, manufacturers, brands and retailers

The Global Textile Scheme (GTS) provides a common data structure for digital product passports in the textile industry. It was developed in accordance with the new EU requirements and supports partners in the supply chain in exchanging uniform, machine-readable product information – based on existing systems and workflows.

Global Textile Scheme - all details
Communication

Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)

Reliable data is the foundation of any sustainability strategy. The CSRD requires large companies to report on ESG issues in accordance with the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS).

The following topics are subject to reporting requirements:

  • Climate change and transition plan
  • Environmental pollution, water, biodiversity, and eco systems
  • Resource use and circular economy
  • Human rights and labour practices
  • Consumer and end-user issues
  • Business ethics and conduct

The ESRS will apply to capital market-oriented companies for the 2027 financial year.

Companies that do not fall within the scope of the CSRD can voluntarily report to investors or supply chain partners in accordance with standards such as the VSME Standard.

Products that enable the necessary data collection and support improvements in socio-ecological performance:

Water and CO2 footprint
Responsible production
Corporate due diligence obligations

Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive (EmpCo)

The Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive (EmpCo) aims to protect consumers from misleading environmental claims and labels and to increase transparency in sustainability claims.

  • Sustainability labels must be based on certified systems
  • Advertising claims must be substantiated by outstanding performance (e.g. through OEKO-TEX® certificates)

The following are prohibited:

  • Vague terms such as ‘environmentally friendly’ without proof
  • Misleading or irrelevant advertising

With our solutions, you can communicate with legal certainty – based on robust standards and certifications:

Green Button
Corporate due diligence obligations
OEKO-TEX® certificates & product labels

Contact

Customer Service

+49 7143 271-898 Phone customerservice@hohenstein.comEmail