Advancing Sustainability Through the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR)

On 19–20 February 2025, Brussels hosted the inaugural meeting of the Ecodesign Forum, a pivotal step in implementing the EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). This Forum congregates nearly 130 experts from Member States, industry, NGOs, and academia to guide and ensure a transparent rollout of sustainable product standards and energy labelling across the EU single market.

Key Objectives of ESPR

The ESPR is designed to:

• Enhance product sustainability and energy efficiency.
• Foster a circular economy by promoting durability, reparability, and recyclability.
• Standardize regulations across EU Member States to remove trade barriers and create a level playing field.
• Boost European industrial competitiveness and drive innovation.
• Strengthen the EU’s leadership in sustainability.

Forum’s Role and Membership

Serving as a consultative body, the Ecodesign Forum oversees the implementation of ESPR and related energy labelling. Member selection prioritizes expertise in designated priority products and aims for cross-sectoral representation. Applications to join remain open, reflecting the Forum’s evolving nature aligned with ESPR’s development.

Prioritized Products and Measures

The first Working Plan (to be adopted by April 2025) will set the regulatory agenda for the next five years, targeting high-impact product categories such as:

• Textiles (apparel)
• Furniture
• Steel and aluminium
• Tyres
• Energy-related products from previous ecodesign regulations

Additionally, horizontal measures will address:

• Repairability, including repair scores to inform consumers.
• Recyclability and recycled content requirements for electronic equipment.

The Forum will also draft regulations to manage the destruction of unsold consumer goods like apparel and footwear, aiming to curb waste and enforce transparency on disposal practices.

Upcoming Milestones

• April 2025: Adoption of the first ESPR and Energy Labelling Working Plan.
• July 2025: Adoption of acts to prevent destruction of unsold products.
• Subsequent development of harmonized ecodesign requirements, underpinned by robust impact assessments, ensuring proportionality and inclusivity, particularly supporting SMEs.

Leadership Perspectives

Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner for Environment, emphasized the ESPR’s role beyond regulation: fostering innovation, sustainability, and economic growth. She highlighted the EU’s commitment to a circular economy benefiting both the environment and industry through harmonized rules and increased market transparency.

Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné underscored the Forum’s importance in uniting stakeholders to implement effective measures reducing waste and enhancing resource efficiency, ultimately advancing Europe’s sustainable product policies.

For detailed documents and updates, visit the ESPR website and consult the Register of Commission Expert Groups.

Publication date: 19 February 2025
Source: Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission

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