ESPR is now in Force – What’s ahead for companies placing products on the EU market? The new Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) (EU) 2024/1781 came into force on 18 July 2024 and it is set to reshape the European product landscape by boosting circularity, energy performance and other aspects of environmental sustainability.
Based on the European Green Deal, the EU Circular Economy Action Plan as well as the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, this regulation will serve as the basis to introduce new ecodesign requirements aimed at making products more durable, reliable, reusable, upgradable, reparable, and easier to maintain, refurbish, and recycle, while also improving energy and resource efficiency. Therefore, for EU product manufacturers and importers, but also their non-EU counterparts, understanding ESPR is crucial.
Additionally, ESPR mandates the implementation of Digital Product Passports (DPP), which may transform the way products are tracked, maintained,and recycled, and will enhance the transmission of information on “substances of concern” in products across the value chain(s).
