EU's new ecological design regulation targets sustainable products

The EU’s recently implemented Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) for products sold in the bloc, targeting sustainability and consumer choices, according to a researcher.

The ESPR, which took effect July 18, establishes a comprehensive framework for eco-design requirements.

The European Commission described is as “the cornerstone of the Commission’s approach to more environmentally sustainable and circular products.”

“The ESPR is part of a package of measures that are central to achieving the objectives of the 2020 Circular Economy Action Plan,” it said. “They will contribute to helping the EU reach its environmental and climate goals, doubling its circularity rate of material use and to achieving its energy efficiency targets by 2030.”

Digital Product Passport (DPP)

Antoine Oger, research director at the Institute for European Environmental Policy, told Anadolu about key objectives and mechanisms of the newly implemented ESPR, emphasizing its pivotal role in promoting sustainability within the EU market.

The requirements include performance criteria such as durability, reusability, repairability, recyclability, upgradability and overall environmental effects for products sold in the EU, said the researcher.

"The ESPR seeks to improve the sustainability of goods and empower consumer choices through several initiatives, including requirements on the destruction of unsold goods, incentives for sustainable product choices, a public online information platform, green public procurement, adequate eco-label use and strengthened market surveillance for non-compliance," he said.

A notable feature is the introduction of the Digital Product Passport (DPP).

According to Oger, the DPP is a fundamental element of the regulation, enhancing the traceability, repairability and recyclability of products sold in the EU.

"The DPP will carry a product’s information requirements, providing details on performance, traceability, technical documentation, harmful chemicals, user manuals and facilitating the repair and recycling of products,” he highlighted. “It is the cornerstone of the implementation and monitoring processes of the regulation.”

Enforcement challenges

The ESPR’s enforcement poses challenges, particularly regarding market surveillance and compliance for EU and foreign suppliers.

Oger pointed out that foreign suppliers will face new barriers when exporting products to the EU, as the new ecodesign requirements apply to all products sold within the market.

"Member states will receive support from the European Commission to ensure proper market surveillance of incoming products and their compliance with the ESPR,” he stated.

“However, customs and market surveillance authorities are already faced with a daunting task,” he said. “The proliferation of EU autonomous measures such as the Regulation on Deforestation Free Products (EUDR), Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and now the ESPR will put extra strain on these authorities as each regulation carries its own certification/declaration process.”

To address the challenges, the researcher suggested streamlining product declaration information in a common DPP and scaling up the budget for customs and market surveillance authorities to ensure proper functioning.

"Where possible, product declaration information should be streamlined, for example in a common DPP, and the budget for customs and market surveillance authorities should be scaled up accordingly to ensure their proper functioning," he said.

More sustainable, circular economy

The European Commission described the ESPR as “a critical component of the EU Green Deal's Circular Economy Action Plan, which aims to transition the EU towards a more sustainable and circular economy.”

“By setting stringent ecodesign requirements and enhancing product information transparency through the DPP, the ESPR intends to significantly reduce the environmental impact of products sold within the EU,” it said.

The Commission emphasized that “the regulation aims to empower consumers by providing them with clear and accessible information about the sustainability of products, thereby enabling more informed purchasing decisions.”

“Additionally, the ESPR encourages the development and use of eco-friendly products, contributing to the overall goal of achieving a more sustainable and resilient economy in the EU,” the Commission added.

“The ESPR marks a significant step forward in the EU’s efforts to promote sustainability and circularity in its economy.”

Oger emphasized: "The introduction of the ESPR and the DPP will not only improve the sustainability of products but also enhance consumer awareness and choices, ultimately supporting the EU Green Deal’s Circular Economy Action Plan."