The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) represents a significant shift in the European Union's approach to sustainable product regulation. By replacing the existing Ecodesign Directive, the ESPR aims to set higher ecological standards for a broader range of products, making sustainability the norm in the EU market.
The European Ecodesign Directive (Directive 2009/125/EC) sets ecological standards for the design of specific product groups within the European Union. It is often discussed alongside its counterpart, the Energy Labeling Regulation, which mandates energy labels for products. Together, these directives aim to reduce the environmental impact of energy-intensive products such as fridges and washing machines.
In 2021, these regulations helped reduce energy consumption of the regulated products by 10% and saved consumers €120 billion in energy costs. This savings is estimated to have doubled in 2022.
The Ecodesign Directive emphasizes sustainable design, aiming to minimize the lifecycle environmental impacts of products through well-informed design choices, ideally driven by Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) data.
The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), proposed in March 2022, will replace the current EU Ecodesign Directive. It introduces more extensive Ecodesign requirements for a wider range of product groups, potentially leading to significant energy savings equivalent to the EU’s imports of Russian gas by 2030.
The ESPR will cover an extensive range of product categories beyond those governed by the current Ecodesign Directive. These include but are not limited to:
Each product category will be subject to specific ecodesign criteria aimed at improving energy efficiency, reducing resource consumption, and enhancing product longevity.
The Ecodesign Directive and ESPR are integral components of the EU's ambitious Green Deal, which aims to make the EU carbon neutral by 2050. The Green Deal encompasses several policies, including the Circular Economy Action Plan and the Sustainable Products Initiative, to promote sustainable growth and reduce resource use.
1. EU’s Green Deal – The Big Idea: A policy package to make the EU carbon neutral by 2050, with immense funds of about €1 trillion. It promises to decouple economic growth from resource use, restore nature, and improve public health and well-being.
2. Circular Economy – A Plan for Action: This is a core part of the EU Green Deal, focusing on empowering consumers to make sustainable choices, reducing waste, and launching the Sustainable Products Initiative.
3. Sustainable Products Initiative – Getting Down to Business: The goal is to make sustainable products the norm. The ESPR is the main policy instrument here, binding for EU member states. This initiative is also implemented through the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles and the revision of the Construction Products Regulation.
4. ESPR Replacing the Ecodesign Directive - As of December 2022, the Ecodesign Directive regulates 29 product categories, mainly with energy-related criteria. The new ESPR aims to cover the broadest possible range of products with more diverse Ecodesign criteria, aligning with the Right to Repair, and boosting circularity, durability, reusability, upgradability, and repairability.
The ESPR will introduce a digital product passport for all regulated products. This will be an easily accessible tag on the products that makes sustainability information instantly available to supply chain actors, regulators, and consumers alike.
To address the practice of destroying unsold consumer products, the ESPR will mandate companies to adopt measures to prevent this practice and disclose unsold product disposal data. A direct ban on unsold textile and footwear destruction applies to large companies, while smaller businesses have exemptions and medium-sized companies have a transitional period.
5. Implementing Acts to the ESPR - Each regulated product group in the Ecodesign Directive has its own "implementing act" a piece of law making the Ecodesign criteria mandatory. The EU is developing new implementing acts for more product groups and revising old ones. Once the ESPR enters into force, it will take over these acts and replace the current Ecodesign Directive.
6. Energy Labels - The Ecodesign Directive and the Energy Labelling Regulation are "sister directives," often mentioned and worked on together. Product groups with energy labeling requirements also have an Ecodesign ruling (except tires). However, not every product group with Ecodesign ruling needs or is suitable for energy labeling.
As of December 2023, energy labeling applied to 14 of the product groups listed above and to tires (which do not have Ecodesign criteria).
The EU describes it as follows:
Ecodesign Directive (2009/125/EC): The tool for making products more energy efficient. Energy Labelling Regulation (EU) 2017/1369: The tool through which the consumer can recognize the best-performing products.
In December 2023, the EU parliament and council reached a provisional agreement on the ESPR, pushing it further in the legislative process. Once adopted, the ESPR's general measures, including the ban on the destruction of unsold products, will take effect.
Highlights of the 2024-2027 Work Plan:
In preparation for the ESPR, businesses are encouraged to conduct comprehensive Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) of their products. LCAs provide valuable insights into a product's environmental impact across its entire lifecycle, from raw material extraction to end-of-life disposal. By leveraging Acquis compliance tool, companies can quantify environmental footprints and optimize product designs to meet ESPR criteria effectively.
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