EU Ecodesign Regulation: Driving More Sustainable Products in 2024

The European Union has taken a major step toward sustainability with its updated Ecodesign Regulation, replacing the 2009 directive to foster greener, more circular products across nearly all sectors in the EU market.

From Directive to Regulation: A Stronger Framework

• Previous Directive (2009): Focused on energy efficiency for 31 product groups like computers, refrigerators, and water pumps. It helped save an estimated €120 billion in energy costs and cut energy consumption by 10%.
• New Regulation (2024): Directly applicable in all EU member states, ensuring uniform enforcement and eliminating national discrepancies. It expands the scope beyond energy-related products to encompass a wide variety of goods.

Broad Scope: Products Covered

The updated regulations apply to a vast range of products including:

• Steel and aluminium
• Furniture
• Textiles
• Chemicals (e.g., detergents)
• Tyres
• Dishwashers and televisions

Exclusions: The rules do not cover food, medicinal products, motor vehicles, or products related to defense and national security.

Additionally, obligations now extend to products sold online, aligning with the Digital Services Act to regulate online marketplaces effectively.

New Green Requirements: Circularity & Sustainability Central

The EU urges manufacturers to adopt a circular and green mindset from the design phase to reduce the high environmental toll associated with extracting and processing raw materials—activities responsible for about 50% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Key ecodesign criteria now include:

• Durability, reusability, upgradability, and reparability
• Use of recycled content, remanufacturing, and recyclability
• Restrictions on substances that hinder circularity
• Comprehensive evaluation of carbon and environmental footprints
• Enhanced energy and resource efficiency

These requirements aim to double the EU’s material circularity rate, support climate goals, and meet 2030 energy efficiency targets.

Digital Product Passport: Transparency & Circular Economy

A pivotal feature of the new regulation is the digital product passport—an electronic tool providing detailed sustainability information on products. This empowers:

• Consumers and businesses to make environmentally informed purchasing decisions
• Public authorities to perform more effective market surveillance
• Facilitates smoother circulation of sustainable products within the single market, enhancing EU economic competitiveness

Ban on Destruction of Unsold Goods: Fighting Waste

To address resource wastage and pollution, the regulation prohibits the destruction of unsold textiles and footwear in the EU. Key points include:

• Up to 594,000 tonnes of textiles are destroyed yearly before reaching consumers
• Small and micro-enterprises are exempt
• Medium-sized companies have a transitional exemption until July 19, 2030
• Companies must publicly disclose quantities and reasons for destroying unsold consumer products

Future bans may extend to other resource-intensive items as assessed by the European Commission.

Conclusion

The 2024 Ecodesign Regulation symbolizes the EU’s commitment to embedding sustainability deeply into product lifecycles—promoting durability, circularity, and transparency. Its implementation promises significant environmental benefits while empowering consumers and industry stakeholders alike toward a greener, more resource-efficient future.

For more details: Visit the official Council of the European Union Ecodesign page.

Published: January 2025
Categories: Competitiveness, Environment, Circular Economy, Consumer Protection

Design Delight Studio curates high-impact, authoritative insights into sustainable and organic product trends, helping conscious consumers and innovative brands stay ahead in a fast-evolving green economy.