Preparing for the EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR): WBCSD’s Readiness Assessment Tool

On April 16, 2025, the European Commission advanced sustainable product policy by adopting the Ecodesign and Energy Labelling Working Plan 2025–2030. This initiative emphasizes making sustainable products the norm across the EU, introducing upcoming Delegated Acts that will stipulate clear requirements on durability, reparability, and recyclability.

What is the Readiness Assessment Tool?

To assist companies in aligning with the new Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), in partnership with ERM, launched a Readiness Assessment Tool. This tool helps businesses:

• Evaluate the availability of critical product data required under ESPR.
• Identify existing gaps in sustainability-related information.
• Prioritize early actions to comply ahead of full regulation enforcement.

The tool is designed for flexibility, allowing assessment of individual products or entire product groups. Future updates will enable filtering based on specific product categories as defined in forthcoming Delegated Acts.

How Does the Tool Work?

The tool focuses on compliance with key ESPR provisions, specifically:

• Performance requirements outlined in Articles 6 and 7.
• Product aspects defined under Article 5(1).
• Various product lifecycle stages.

Using a guided Excel interface, users can input current product data and instantly receive a high-level readiness score. This supports businesses in proactively navigating regulatory demands and preparing for upcoming Digital Product Passport (DPP) obligations.

Complementary Initiatives

WBCSD is expanding efforts through the Circularity Data Exchange (CDX) platform, aiming to:

• Facilitate seamless sharing and access to circular economy data.
• Enhance business capabilities to meet ESPR’s performance and information criteria.

Access and Support

• The Readiness Assessment Tool is available for download via the WBCSD website.
• For inquiries or assistance, contact:
  • vandoorne@wbcsd.org
  • garin@wbcsd.org

Related Resources from WBCSD

• Packaging Data Exchange: Towards a Global Data Standard (March 27, 2025)
• Circular Transition Indicators (CTI) Enabling Solutions Guide (March 13, 2025)
• Enabling Corporate Plastics Disclosure: Building a Plastics Protocol (November 3, 2023)

Source: World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), April 2025

By leveraging the Readiness Assessment Tool, companies can embed sustainability compliance into their corporate strategies effectively, enhancing competitiveness while contributing to the EU’s vision for a circular, low-impact economy by 2030.

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