Apparel, household linen and footwear (TLC)

The apparel, household linen and footwear EPR scheme was introduced in 2007 through a French regulation, initially in order to manage waste. Today, the issues covered by the scheme in France go much further. The main objective is to develop the circular economy for apparel, linen and footwear. 
Read on to find information, publications and data on the apparel, household linen and footwear scheme (abbreviated ‘TLC’ in French). 

Apparel, household linen and footwear (TLC)

The apparel, household linen and footwear EPR scheme was introduced in 2007 through a French regulation, initially in order to manage waste. Today, the issues covered by the scheme in France go much further. The main objective is to develop the circular economy for apparel, linen and footwear. 
Read on to find information, publications and data on the apparel, household linen and footwear scheme (abbreviated ‘TLC’ in French). 

886 000

tonnes

placed on the market in 2024 in France

36,5 %

of product

collected in 2024

0,8 %

of product

disposed of (not recovered) in 2024

Need more data on the scheme?

View the dashboard of 2024 data reported by the scheme’s producer responsibility organisation, on all aspects from market placements to collection, treatment, reuse, repare and financial data. 

The dashboards are currently only available in French. We apologise for any inconvenience caused. You can find the list of publications we produce in English on the Publications page. 

Everything you need to know about the scheme

The key ambitions of the apparel, household linen and footwear EPR scheme are to:  

  • Encourage companies putting products on the market to ecodesign their products
  • Develop repair
  • Develop reuse, in collaboration with social and solidarity economy (SSE) operators in particular;
  • Raise public awareness of these initiatives, and of good sorting practices for apparel, household linen and footwear deemed not reusable or recyclable
  • Finance information campaigns carried out by local authorities
  • Develop the collection of apparel, household linen and footwear by providing for and supporting the scheme operators, including local authorities and social and solidarity economy actors, and by prioritising certain regions
  • Develop the recovery of apparel, household linen and footwear as soon as it is collected by providing for its treatment, particularly through take-back from the collection and sorting operators and by supporting these operators and secondary sorting operations
  • Contribute to research and development projects on apparel, household linen and footwear recycling. 

The products concerned 

The products concerned are all items of household apparel, linen and footwear that are:  

  • placed on the French market (including Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Réunion Island, Mayotte, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Martin);
  • sold or donated;
  • intended for consumers;
  • new. 

List of products concerned

To find out more, consult the non-exhaustive list of products covered on the website of the Refashion producer responsibility organisation.
 


Products not concerned

The following products are excluded from the apparel, household linen and footwear scheme: 

  • garments made of 100% leather or natural fur
  • second-hand apparel, household linen and footwear imported into France having been placed on foreign markets. 

To find out whether you are considered as a producer under the apparel, household linen and footwear EPR scheme, consult [in French] the definition and complete the dedicated form.  

1 producer responsibility organisation (PRO) is accredited for the current accreditation period

Accredited PRO Current accreditation period EPR fees rate
Logo REFASHION 2023-01-01 – 2028-12-31 Check the EPR fees rates
Consult the modulation guide

When a producer joins a producer responsibility organisation (PRO), it pays the organisation an EPR fee in return for the latter taking responsibility for its obligations relating to the products it places on the market.

This amount may be modulated upwards or downwards depending on the environmental characteristics of the products. A bonus rewards virtuous practices, while a penalty is applied to a product with characteristics that have a significant impact on the environment or human health.

Bonuses

Applicable within the apparel, household linen and footwear EPR scheme in 2025

Criterion Condition Bonus amount Documentary proof
Incorporation of recycled raw materials Raw materials derived from post-consumer recycling of waste apparel, linen and footwear or from waste collected or supported by a PRO €500 or €1,000/t of recycled material incorporated (depending on material origin). Declaration of the quantities of recycled materials incorporated and of product references including such materials;
Documents enabling these quantities and their traceability to be verified.
Sustainability Compliance with all the sustainability criteria in appendix III of the specifications.
View the specifications
€0.035 to €1.05/unit (depending on product category and number of market placements) Test report issued by an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory
Environmental certification Finished products certified under one or more of these labels: Ecocert® ERTS - Level 2, OEKO-TEX® MADE IN GREEN, Bluesign® Product, Fairtrade® Textile, EU Ecolabel, Demeter®, GOTS or Bioré® €0.30/item
One bonus only per product, even if it holds several labels.
 
Certificate of issuance of one of these labels

Penalties

Applicable within the apparel, household linen and footwear EPR scheme in 2025

Criterion Condition Penalty amount Documentary proof
Recyclability Presence of electronic or electrical components. 
Excluding component(s) whose purpose is to provide information on product traceability and/or composition, not incorporating a battery.
+50% of the EPR fee amount Reporting of product references concerned to the PRO
Recyclability Product containing metallised fibres. 
No minimum threshold.
Only concerns internal recycling disruptors (fabrics, non-removable parts, etc.).
+50% of the EPR fee amount Reporting of product references concerned to the PRO

In some cases, several bonuses or penalties may apply to a given product under this scheme.

Producers, to enquire about the conditions you have to meet and the procedures you have to complete to benefit from a bonus, or check whether you are subject to a penalty, please contact your producer responsibility organisation.


Find out more about EPR fee modulation

The specifications set the following targets:  

Collection targets  Recycling targets2  Chemical recycling targets3  Maximum disposal target 
2023 - 2027 2028 2024 2027 2025 2028 Ongoing 
+20 Kt for 2023
+45 Kt for 2024
+75 Kt for 2025
+110 Kt for 2026
+148 Kt for 2027
relative to 2022
60 %(1) 70 % 80 % 50 % 90 % 0,5 %

(1) relative to the average for market placements between N-3 and N-1. 
(2) relative to the tonnages collected and then sorted (excluding reuse and items not subject to apparel, household linen and footwear EPR). 
(3) relative to the collected and sorted tonnages of apparel, household linen and footwear composed of at least 90% synthetic material, excluding reused items and those not subject to EPR). 

Repair targets Reuse targets (excluding unsold products)
2028 2024 2027
+35% relative to 2019  120kt of which 8% within 1,500 km of the collection point  15% within 1,500 km 

(4) The repair and reuse targets are given for guidance purposes (not mandatory). 

French regulations 

 

European Union regulations 

The website Que faire de mes déchets/objets (“What to do with my waste and objects”) is designed to help individuals adopt best practices in terms of repair, reuse and recycling.  
It is based on a simple, intuitive search engine: by entering an object or waste item, users can find out how to dispose of it responsibly.  
An interactive map also shows them where they can find their nearest collection, repair and reuse points.

Informing your consumers or citizens

As a company or local authority, you have a vital role to play in raising awareness of these best practices. By publicising this resource, you can offer your users a valuable service while promoting your commitment to a circular economy. 

Integrate this tool [in French] on your site

Timeline

Implementation of the scheme

2007

2007

Implementation of the scheme

2008

Publication of a list of products concerned

2008

Publication of a list of products concerned

First accreditation of the Eco TLC PRO (now called Refashion)

2009

2009

First accreditation of the Eco TLC PRO (now called Refashion)

2014

Second accreditation of the Eco TLC PRO

2014

Second accreditation of the Eco TLC PRO

Third accreditation of the Refashion PRO

2019

2019

Third accreditation of the Refashion PRO

2020

AGEC Law

2020

AGEC Law

Publication of the latest specifications and fourth accreditation of Refashion

2023

2023

Publication of the latest specifications and fourth accreditation of Refashion

2023 - 2028

Accreditation valid

Page top