Test and certification company SGS has highlighted the EC’s recent approval of the new Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), which aims to set sustainability criteria for a wide range of products across the EU.
This regulation supersedes the current eco-design directive (2009/125/EC) and introduces additional eco-design criteria applicable to a broader range of products sold on the EU market. All products should be designed for extended lifespans and be more easily repairable, upgradeable and recyclable.
The updated ecodesign framework is designed to tackle various aspects of the product development lifecycle, promoting practices that contribute to sustainability. It establishes rigorous green standards for sustainable products, influencing a wide range of goods, with some exceptions such as motor vehicles and defence-related items, noted SGS.
Sustainability elements addressed in the revised regulation include product durability, reusability, upgradability and repairability, alongside the use of substances that inhibit circularity. It also covers energy and resource efficiency, recycled content, remanufacturing and recycling, and the carbon and environmental footprints of products.
SGS said a new ‘Digital Product Passport’ has been added: designed to assist consumers and businesses in making informed purchasing decisions by offering details about a product’s environmental sustainability. It further tasks the Commission to manage a public web portal, allowing consumers to access and compare information contained within these product passports.
After receiving approval from the Council, the legislative act will be signed by the Presidents of the European Parliament and the Council, according to SGS. Following this, it will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and become effective 20 days after publication. Its enforcement will begin 24 months later.