Corertex Consortium Backs Customs Duties on Small Parcels from Asia: “A Useful Measure for the Textile Supply Chain”
November 18, 2025
Textile Circular Economy: The “Prato Model” and the Corertex Challenge
February 10, 2026Customs Duty on Extra-EU Parcels Comes into Force: Corertex Calls for Part of Revenue to Support Textile Reuse and Recycling
From the beginning of the year, a €2 customs duty on parcels from countries outside the European Union has come into force. The levy applies to shipments with a declared value of €150 or less and is collected by the Italian Customs and Monopolies Agency upon final importation. 
The measure, introduced within the framework of the national financial law, was originally supported by the Corertex Consortium as a way to curb the unchecked influx of fast and ultra-fast fashion, which bring large volumes of low-quality products into the market. 
Now, while acknowledging the deterrent effect of the duty on low-quality imports, Corertex is calling for a portion of the proceeds to be allocated to support the textile reuse and recycling supply chain, a sector currently facing economic and operational challenges.
According to Raffaello De Salvo, president of Corertex and an early proponent of the idea during ministerial roundtables on the textile waste crisis, the duty can serve a dual purpose:
• as a deterrent to discourage purchases of low-quality products;
• as a source of funding for textile recovery activities while the final EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) decree is being implemented.
Although precise national figures on extra-EU parcel imports are not available, Corertex highlights that, at the European level, more than 4.5 billion such parcels are estimated, potentially generating tens of millions of euros in revenue for public coffers. 
The Consortium underscores the importance of stimulating demand for recycled fibres, engaging major global brands to promote large-scale adoption of regenerated materials. At the same time, De Salvo draws attention to the need to counteract greenwashing and ensure transparency in environmental information on textile products. 
A more favorable fiscal framework and public policies that incentivize the demand for reused and recycled materials are considered essential by Corertex to turn circular economy principles into structured and sustainable practice.
Credits:
Economy – Local editions: Prato
