EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation

The European Union's Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) represents a major advancement towards a more sustainable and circular economy. This new regulation broadens the reach of the Ecodesign Directive to encompass a wider array of products, establishing uniform sustainability and circularity standards that align with the EU’s Green Deal goals. As the compliance deadline approaches, companies must prepare to comply with these rigorous requirements.

Key objectives of the ESPR

The ESPR aims to achieve several key objectives:

• Decoupling: reduce the dependence of economic growth on natural resource use
• Supporting EU’s goals: contribute to the EU’s climate, environmental, and energy goals
• Reducing environmental impacts: minimize the environmental impacts of products
• Promoting sustainable consumption: boost the supply and demand for sustainable goods
• Standardizing ecodesign: establish consistent ecodesign requirements across the EU
• Reducing material dependencies: decrease reliance on critical materials
• Extending product lifespans: increase the durability, reusability, and reparability of products

How the ESPR will work

The ESPR sets targeted sustainability and circularity requirements for all companies selling products in the EU market. These requirements will cover various aspects of product design and production, including:

• Durability, reusability, upgradability, and reparability: ensuring products are designed to last longer and can be easily repaired or reused
• Substances: limiting the use of harmful substances that hinder circularity
• Energy and resource efficiency: promoting energy-efficient products that minimize resource consumption
• Recycled content: increasing the use of recycled materials in product manufacturing
• Remanufacturing and recycling: facilitating the remanufacturing and recycling of products
• Carbon and environmental footprints: reducing the carbon footprint and overall environmental impact of products
• Information requirements: mandating the provision of product information, including through a Digital Product Passport (DPP)

DPP will be a game-changer in the implementation of the ESPR. This digital platform will not only provide a means for managing and sharing product sustainability information but also empower consumers to make informed choices and assist public authorities in enforcing compliance.

Timeline and scope

The implementation of the ESPR is planned to take place in several phases:

• Summer 2024: the ESPR has come into effect
• Fall 2024: a panel of experts will be assembled to create implementation guidelines
• Mid-2025: introduction of regulations aimed at eliminating unsold goods
• 2026: enactment of the initial ESPR measures, potentially focusing on textiles and steel
• 2027-2028: initial product requirements will begin to apply to additional product categories

Preparing for the ESPR

While the ESPR is still in its early stages, companies can take proactive steps to prepare for its implementation. This includes:

• Iterative design and agility: adopting a flexible design approach that allows for continuous improvement and adaptation to changing regulations
• Data collection and supplier contracts: gathering data on product sustainability attributes and ensuring that these criteria are included in supplier agreements
• Procurement and the DPP: integrating the DPP data collection into procurement processes and evaluating IT system compatibility

By taking these steps, companies can position themselves to comply with the ESPR and benefit from the opportunities it presents for sustainable growth and innovation.