Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation

Overview

The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), which entered into force on 18 July 2024, is the cornerstone of the Commission’s approach to more environmentally sustainable and circular products.

Products and the way we use them can significantly impact the environment. Consumption in the EU can, therefore, be a major cause of climate change and pollution.

The ESPR is part of a package of measures that are central to achieving the aims of the 2020 Circular Economy Action Plan and fostering the transition to a circular, sustainable, and competitive economy. It will contribute to helping the EU reach its environmental and climate goals, double its circularity rate of material use and achieve its energy efficiency targets by 2030,

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Objectives

The ESPR aims to significantly improve the sustainability of products placed on the EU market by improving their circularity, energy performance, recyclability and durability.

It will also play a central role in developing a strong, well-functioning single market for sustainable products in the EU.

By doing so, a significant step will be taken towards better protecting our planet, fostering more sustainable business models and strengthening the overall competitiveness and resilience of the EU economy.

The ESPR replaces the Ecodesign Directive 2009/125/EC and establishes a framework for setting ecodesign requirements on specific product groups. It extends the Ecodesign Directive in two ways.