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

On April 16, 2025, the European Commission adopted the Ecodesign and Energy Labelling Working Plan 2025–2030, setting forth priorities for the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). This regulation aims to make sustainable products the norm across the EU by enforcing stricter product requirements including durability, reparability, and recyclability.

What is the ESPR Readiness Assessment Tool?

In partnership with ERM, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) developed a Readiness Assessment Tool designed to help companies prepare for the ESPR. This Excel-based tool enables businesses to:

• Evaluate the availability of key product data required under the ESPR.
• Identify gaps in current product information and sustainability performance.
• Assess reporting readiness based on articles concerning both performance and information requirements (Articles 6 and 7).

The tool breaks down assessment by specified product aspects and lifecycle stages (per Article 5(1)), fostering a step-by-step preparedness process. It also anticipates integration with Digital Product Passport (DPP) frameworks expected under upcoming Delegated Acts.

Benefits and Future Directions

• Proactive Compliance: Helps companies act early to align with upcoming regulatory demands before enforcement.
• Data-Driven Insights: Supports systematic evaluation across sustainability criteria.
• Circularity Integration: The tool feeds into WBCSD’s broader Circularity Data Exchange (CDX) initiative, which aims to facilitate sharing and access to circular economy data for diverse compliance and business needs.

Future tool updates may include enhanced filtering by product groups aligned with forthcoming ESPR Delegated Acts.

Additional Resources by WBCSD

• Packaging Data Exchange (March 2025): Focus on global standards for packaging information exchange to meet evolving regulations.
• Circular Transition Indicators (March 2025): Guide for companies offering circular solutions to measure their impact effectively.
• Corporate Plastics Disclosure Protocol (November 2023): Framework to improve transparency on corporate plastic usage and pollution.

How to Access the Tool

Download the Excel Readiness Assessment Tool and start evaluating your company’s product sustainability preparedness.

For support or inquiries, contact:

• vandoorne@wbcsd.org
• garin@wbcsd.org

About WBCSD

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development is a global, CEO-led organization committed to accelerating sustainable development through business leadership. With a focus on circular economy, emissions reduction, and nature restoration, WBCSD supports companies in integrating sustainability into core strategies.

Stay informed and prepared with WBCSD’s tools and guidance to future-proof your products under the ESPR—and lead in sustainability innovation.

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.