Designing More Sustainable Products: 18 High-Potential Categories Identified by EU’s Joint Research Centre

On 22 November 2024, the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission published a pivotal report assessing product categories for sustainable design under the new Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) (EU Regulation 2024/1781). This regulation, effective since July 2024, aims to make sustainability a norm across European markets by imposing mandatory environmental criteria on a broad range of products.

Key Objectives of the ESPR

• Reduce environmental impacts of products across their lifecycle.
• Promote circularity and resource efficiency.
• Enhance EU strategic autonomy by reducing dependencies in supply chains.
• Support the EU’s transition to climate neutrality and a net-zero economy.
• Build upon and extend the prior Ecodesign Directive 2009/125/EC, moving beyond just energy-related products.

18 Priority Product Categories for Regulation

The JRC started with 33 product groups and shortlisted 18 categories with significant potential for regulation under the ESPR. These were chosen based on:

• Environmental impact relevance.
• Potential for improvement.
• Coverage by other EU policies.
• Economic importance.
• Feasibility of regulation.

Final Products (11 Groups)

• Textiles and footwear
• Furniture
• Tyres
• Bed mattresses
• Detergents
• Paints and varnishes
• Lubricants
• Cosmetics
• Toys
• Fishing gear
• Absorbent hygiene products

Intermediate Products (7 Groups)

• Iron and steel
• Commodity chemicals
• Non-ferrous, non-aluminium metals
• Aluminium
• Plastic and polymers
• Pulp and paper
• Glass

Environmental and Strategic Assessment

Products were evaluated across 10 environmental impact categories including water, air, biodiversity, climate change, energy consumption, waste, human toxicity, and material efficiency. The analysis also took into account the potential to enhance EU strategic autonomy by fostering circular economies and reducing supply chain vulnerabilities.

Findings correlate these priority products with the overall EU Consumption Footprint and planetary boundaries, highlighting their significant contribution to environmental pressures. The ESPR aims to ease this strain through targeted, mandatory ecodesign measures.

Horizontal Ecodesign Requirements

The report highlights opportunities for horizontal (cross-sector) rules on:

• Durability and repairability – identified as the most impactful.
• Recyclability
• Recycled content

Such measures could apply simultaneously to textiles, footwear, toys, mattresses, electronics, and more, boosting resource efficiency and product lifespan.

Next Steps

• The JRC’s findings will feed into the preparation of the first ESPR Working Plan, expected in the first half of 2025.
• The Commission will conduct further in-depth studies and stakeholder consultations on the shortlisted products.
• Final selections and detailed rules will be developed to enforce ecodesign criteria that promote sustainable production and consumption in the EU.

Why This Matters for Sustainable Products

With consumption patterns pushing beyond planetary limits, the ESPR and JRC’s priority list mark a critical step toward mainstreaming sustainability in product design. It aligns environmental protection with industry competitiveness, stimulates circular business models, and supports the EU’s climate and green economy targets.

For consumers and businesses focused on organic and sustainable product ecosystems, these developments promise improved product sustainability, transparency, and innovation opportunities across multiple product categories integral to daily life.

Related Resources

• Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation: Study on new product priorities
• EU Regulation 2024/1781 on Ecodesign for Sustainable Products

Published by The Joint Research Centre: EU Science Hub, 22 November 2024
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