UPV legislation & regulations for textiles

The UPV legislation (Extended Producer Responsibility) changes the way we view clothing and textiles. Not only production counts, but also what happens when clothing is worn out. Brands, importers, and organizations that bring textiles to the Dutch market will have to deal with UPV regulations for textiles.

On this page, you can read what UPV is, who the UPV obligations apply to, how the UPV system works, and how Atelier Jungles can assist you with compliance, reporting, and sustainable solutions for clothing and workwear.

What is UPV?

 

UPV stands for Extended Producer Responsibility. The principle: whoever brings a product to the market is also (partially) responsible for the post-use phase – including collection, reuse, recycling, and waste processing.

For UPV textiles, this means that parties bringing clothing or textiles to the Dutch market:

  • must report how many kilos of textiles they bring to the market annually;
  • pay a UPV contribution per kilo/material type;
  • are encouraged to use more sustainable, better recyclable textiles;
  • have incentives to organize reuse, recycling, and upcycling.

UPV is therefore both a legal obligation and an opportunity to make your textile chain more sustainable.

Who does the UPV regulation for textiles apply to?

 

The UPV regulations apply to parties that bring textiles (consumer or work clothing) to the market in the Netherlands. You may fall under the UPV obligation if you:

  • has a clothing brand or label (also private label or white-label);
  • imports textiles or clothing and sells them in the Netherlands;
  • runs a webshop or store that supplies clothing to end users in the Netherlands;
  • produces workwear or merchandise under its own name for organizations.

Are you unsure whether you fall under the UPV rules? Then it is important to look closely at who legally “brings the product to market” – that can also be the client.

How does the UPV legislation & the UPV system work in practice?

 

The UPV legislation has been translated into a concrete UPV system with registration, reporting, and financial contributions. Broadly speaking, you go through the following steps annually:

  1. 1. Registration with the UPV organization
    You register your brand or organization with the designated organization for UPV textiles.
  2. 2. Provide data (kilos & types of materials)
    You report how many kilos of textiles you have brought to the Dutch market, broken down by category (for example, clothing, household textiles) and type of material.
  3. 3. Pay UPV contribution
    Based on volumes and types of materials, a UPV contribution is calculated. Often, more sustainable choices (such as easily recyclable materials) are more favorable.
  4. 4. Burden of proof & audit resilience
    You keep order and production data so that you can demonstrate how volumes are built up.

In our in-depth article UPV regulations for textiles: what does it mean for your brand? you will find additional examples and context for each step.

Compliance with the UPV: risks and opportunities

 

Compliance with the UPV goes beyond “filling out a form.” It involves, among other things:

  • UPV clothing: how many kilos of clothing do you bring to market each year, and what materials does it consist of?
  • UPV waste: how is textile waste collected, separated, and processed?
  • UPV packaging & glass waste: shipping packaging, retail packaging, and bottles may fall under various UPV schemes.

If you do not or only partially comply with the UPV rules, this can lead to:

  • fines or additional charges;
  • image damage, especially with sustainable customers and stakeholders;
  • increased costs in the long term, when systems need to be set up retroactively.

By integrating UPV into your sustainability strategy, it actually becomes an opportunity: you can show how you deal with waste, clothing, and circular solutions.

Combining UPV textiles with circular solutions

 

UPV draait niet alleen om rapporteren, maar vooral om minder textielafval en . Here lies the connection with what Atelier Jungles does: we help organizations to set up UPV-subject textile flows circularly.

For clothing and workwear, we think along about:

  • Design of sustainable & easily recyclable clothing (material choice, fit, details).
  • Take-back systems for old clothing, linked to the issuance of new clothing.
  • Recycling & upcycling of old clothing into new products or workwear.
  • Reports of kilograms and material flows that you can use in your UPV administration.

This way, UPV becomes not just a separate obligation, but part of a circular textile strategy.

UPV checklist: are you ready for it?

 

Use this checklist as a starting point to see how far you are with UPV:

  • We know whether we are subject to UPV for textiles/clothing.
  • We have visibility on the kilograms of textiles we bring to market each year.
  • We can break down textile flows by material type.
  • We have agreements about the collection, reuse, or recycling of old clothing.
  • We know who is internally responsible for UPV reporting.
  • We are taking steps towards circular solutions (reuse, upcycling, recycling).

Are you missing one or more checkmarks? Then this is the moment to sharpen your UPV approach.

How Atelier Jungles helps you with UPV & textiles

 

Atelier Jungles is a local and ethical workshop in The Hague, specializing in sustainable textile projects and workwear. We combine design, production, and circular processes with practical UPV support:

  • Design and production of sustainable workwear and textile products.
  • Establishment of take-back and collection systems for old clothing.
  • Upcycling and recycling processes, so that textile waste is visibly transformed into new products.
  • Data and reports (kilograms, material types) that assist with UPV reporting.

In the in-depth article UPV regulations for textiles: what does it mean for your brand? we delve deeper into the impact for brands and producers.

Frequently asked questions about UPV for textiles

 

Is UPV only applicable to consumer clothing?


No. Workwear, promotional clothing, and other forms of textiles can also fall under UPV if they are brought to the Dutch market. It is important to look at which rules apply for each textile category.

Can I outsource UPV to another party?

You can outsource parts (such as collection or reporting support), but the legal responsibility remains with the party that brings the product to market. Clear contracts and good agreements are therefore essential.

How quickly do I need to comply with the UPV requirements?

The implementation of UPV regulations for textiles is being phased in, but the expectation is that supervision and enforcement will increase in the coming years. Those who already get their data and processes in order will be stronger and can better manage costs and impact.

A step further with UPV & circular textiles?

Would you like to combine your UPV obligations with a strong step towards sustainability and circularity? We are happy to think along with you about clothing, workwear, and textile flows that fit your brand and the regulations.

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