On May 27, the European Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (known by its English acronym, ESPR) was approved, expanding the scope of the previous regulation, which was limited only to energy-related products. The new regulation introduces new requirements such as product durability, reusability, upgradability, and reparability, as well as rules on the presence of substances that hinder circularity, energy and resource efficiency, recycled content, remanufacturing and recycling; carbon footprint and environmental footprint; and information requirements: specifically, a Digital Product Passport (DPP) that will provide information on the environmental sustainability of products.

Additionally, the new regulation prohibits the destruction of unsold textiles and footwear. Small and micro-enterprises will be exempt from this prohibition, while medium-sized companies will benefit from a six-year exemption.

Furthermore, ecodesign criteria will also be applicable to public procurement to encourage the public acquisition of more sustainable products.

The new regulation affects all physical products circulating in the European market, including steel, textiles, furniture, tires, and chemicals, with the exception of automobiles and defense and security-related products.

Next steps

Once the Presidents of the European Parliament and the Council have signed the Regulation, it will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and will enter into force twenty days after publication. It will be applicable twenty-four months after it has entered into force.

Main photography: EU2017EE Estonian Presidency – European Council, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=64849041