EU Regulation on Ecodesign for Sustainable Products (ESPR)

Since June 13, 2024, the EU Regulation on Ecodesign for Sustainable Products (ESPR) has been in effect. It contributes to the Green Deal strategy by aiming to create a competitive and climate-neutral circular economy in the Union.

But what exactly does the regulation entail?

Development of a Work Plan 1

First, the EU Commission is tasked with presenting a work plan by April 19, 2025. This plan will determine which product groups will be prioritized for drafting legal acts. These legal acts will establish ecodesign requirements for the individual product groups, so that their product parameters, such as durability, are improved.

Is it already possible to estimate which product groups will be affected first?

Product Groups 2

The EU regulation recommends that the Commission start with the following product groups in the first work plan, as they are considered to have high potential for a circular economy:

• Iron & steel
• Aluminum
• Textiles (clothing & footwear)
• Furniture, including mattresses
• Tires
• Detergents
• Paints and coatings
• Lubricants
• Chemicals
• Energy-related products
• Information and communication technology products

Any deviation from these product groups must be justifiably explained by the Commission. Additional work plans for other product groups are to follow.

But what exactly are the ecodesign requirements being established for these product groups?

Ecodesign Requirements

Ecodesign requirements are divided into performance requirements and information requirements.

Performance Requirements 3

On one hand, minimum and maximum values for product parameters can be established. For example, if waste volume is considered a product parameter, the Commission may stipulate that the waste volume per unit must not exceed a specific threshold.

On the other hand, there will also be cases where non-quantitative requirements are applied to product parameters. For instance, a high level of modularity improves a product’s repairability, but is certainly difficult to measure.

Information Requirements 4

As the name suggests, information requirements define which data must be accessible. All information will be stored in the so-called Digital Product Passport (DPP), which we will explore in more detail in a follow-up article. One example requirement could be that a product’s environmental and carbon footprint must be made accessible via the digital product passport.

Product parameters have been mentioned repeatedly. What exactly does that term mean?

Product Parameters 5

The ecodesign requirements aim to improve product parameters that contribute to the goal of a competitive and climate-neutral circular economy. The regulation lists the following parameters:

• Durability
• Upgradability
• Repairability
• Recyclability
• Reduction of hazardous substances
• Reduction of energy, water, and resource consumption
• Use of recycled materials
• Use of renewable materials
• Weight and volume of the product and its packaging
• Reduction/optimization of consumables used during operation and maintenance
• Environmental footprint
• CO2 footprint
• Material footprint
• Reduced release of plastics
• Reduced emissions into air, water, and soil
• Reduced material consumption
• Improved functionality and usability
• Reduction of waste generation

Conclusion

The regulation proposed by the EU has the potential to make a significant contribution to a competitive and climate-neutral circular economy within the Union. The key lies in the detailed drafting of legal acts for the individual product groups. The requirements must be clearly defined and verifiable. At the same time, there must be enough flexibility to foster innovation. Certainly not an easy task, but all the more important. Without traceable product standards, achieving a climate-neutral circular economy will be difficult.

We hope this article has shed some light on the ESPR regulation. To stay informed, feel free to subscribe to our newsletter. The promised follow-up article on the digital product passport, which is referenced multiple times in the EU regulation, will be published soon.

Footnotes