How Refashion EPR Fees Work in 2026
A clear breakdown of how the French Refashion EPR system calculates eco-contribution fees for textile, clothing, and footwear brands in 2026.
If you sell clothing, household linen, or footwear in France, you are subject to the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) obligation managed by Refashion (formerly Eco-TLC). This means you must register with Refashion and pay an annual eco-contribution fee based on the products you place on the French market.
The system changed significantly in January 2025 with the introduction of eco-modulation criteria. The 2026 fee scales build on this framework. Here is how the fees are actually calculated.
Per-item fees, not per-tonne
A common misconception is that Refashion fees are calculated by weight. They are not. Fees are calculated per item placed on the market, with each product line having its own rate.
The Refashion scale includes over 80 distinct product lines across three categories: clothing, household linen, and footwear. Each line is further divided by target section (Baby, Children, Women, Men, Unisex), and each combination has a specific rate in euros per item.
Example: A women's T-shirt type top (code V-11-F-EM0) has a 2026 rate of €0.0323 per item. If you place 10,000 units on the market, the fee for that line alone would be €323.00.
The three product categories
Refashion organises all products into three main categories, each with its own product lines and rate structures.
- Clothing — The largest category, covering everything from underwear and T-shirts to coats and suits. Includes sections for Baby (0-36 months), Children (4-14 years), Women, Men, and Unisex items. Also covers fabric sold by the meter, work clothes, swimwear, and accessories.
- Household Linen — Covers towels, sheets, pillowcases, duvet covers, blankets, tablecloths, bath mats, and baby bedlinen. Generally has higher per-item rates due to larger fabric volumes.
- Footwear — Separate from the clothing category. Includes flat footwear, booties, boots, trainers, summer footwear, indoor footwear, and baby shoes. Divided by size range rather than age.
Detailed vs. simplified declaration
Refashion offers two declaration modes. The detailed declaration requires you to specify exactly which product lines you are placing on the market and how many of each. This mode is required if you want to benefit from eco-modulation bonuses.
The simplified declaration uses flat rates per category and is available only for brands placing fewer than 5,000 items per year. The 2026 simplified rates are: Clothing at €0.5799 per item, Household Linen at €0.6525 per item, and Footwear at €0.6414 per item. No eco-modulation bonuses or maluses apply under the simplified mode.
Eco-modulation: bonuses and maluses
Since January 1st, 2025, Refashion applies eco-modulation adjustments to detailed declarations. These either reduce (bonus) or increase (malus) your contribution based on the environmental characteristics of your products.
- Durability bonus — Products designed to last, meeting Refashion's durability criteria.
- Environmental label certification — Products certified with GOTS, Oeko-Tex Made in Green, EU Ecolabel, or equivalent recognised labels.
- Recycled raw materials — Products incorporating recycled materials above Refashion thresholds.
- Metalloplastic fibers malus — Products containing metalloplastic fibers that hinder recyclability.
- Electrical/electronic components malus — Products with electrical or electronic elements that complicate end-of-life processing.
To benefit from eco-modulation bonuses, you must use the detailed declaration mode and provide supporting documentation to Refashion during your annual declaration.
Key dates and administrative fees
The Refashion declaration is annual. You declare the products placed on the French market in the previous calendar year. The declaration window opens on January 14 and closes on February 28. Payment is due by March 31.
Refashion charges a flat €30 administrative fee on every declaration, regardless of the number of items or total contribution amount. Non-compliance can result in fines of up to €30,000.
What this means for your brand
Understanding how Refashion calculates fees is the first step to managing your EPR obligations efficiently. By choosing the right declaration mode, accurately categorising your products, and pursuing eco-modulation bonuses where eligible, you can ensure compliance while optimising your contribution.
Tools like the N.E.X.A Loop EPR Calculator can help you estimate your fees before the declaration window opens, so there are no surprises when it comes time to file.