Footwear under ESPR and the Digital Product Passport
Footwear is not included in the first Working Plan. A scoping study is expected by late 2027, after which a delegated act could be developed. However, large enterprises in footwear are already subject to the Article 25 destruction ban on unsold goods from 19 July 2026. This is confirmed law, not a projected obligation.
Key dates for this sector
9 February 2026
Locked
Locked
Article 25 unsold-product rules finalized: derogations act C(2026) 659 and disclosure-format act C(2026) 660.
Watch items
- Article 25 destruction ban applies to large enterprises for unsold footwear from 19 July 2026. Five-year record-keeping is required to use any derogation. Locked
- ESPR delegated act for footwear is not in the first Working Plan. Earliest realistic compliance would be 2030 or later. Signaled
What to do now
Focus on Article 25 compliance if you are a large enterprise with unsold footwear inventory. No ESPR DPP action is required yet. Monitor the scoping study expected in late 2027.
Sources: C(2026) 659: Article 25 Derogations · COM(2025) 187: Working Plan · Verified 10 June 2026
Part of ESPR Atlas, the free ESPR and Digital Product Passport intelligence hub. Compare all nine categories on the Sectors in Scope page.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does ESPR apply to footwear?
Signaled: not in first Working Plan; scoping study expected late 2027. Key date: Scoping study expected late 2027. This timeline is signaled, not an adopted act; plan against date ranges rather than fixed deadlines.
What should footwear companies watch?
Article 25 destruction ban applies to large enterprises for unsold footwear from 19 July 2026. Five-year record-keeping is required to use any derogation. ESPR delegated act for footwear is not in the first Working Plan. Earliest realistic compliance would be 2030 or later.
What should footwear companies do now?
Focus on Article 25 compliance if you are a large enterprise with unsold footwear inventory. No ESPR DPP action is required yet. Monitor the scoping study expected in late 2027.