Article by Siv Elin Ånestad, Senior Advisor for Circular Economy at NORSIRK.
The EU’s new Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) is one of the most important legislative initiatives supporting the transition to a circular economy and a key component of the European Green Deal. The regulation introduces requirements for product sustainability throughout the entire lifecycle, from design and production to end-of-life management.
For businesses, this means products must increasingly be developed with durability, reparability, resource efficiency and recyclability in mind. Understanding and preparing for these requirements is essential for maintaining market access, competitiveness and regulatory compliance.
The Ecodesign Regulation entered into force in the EU on 18 July 2024. It is currently under consideration within the EEA framework and will be implemented in Norway through the proposed Act on Sustainable Products and Value Chains. Product-specific requirements will enter into force gradually over the coming years.
In principle, the Ecodesign Regulation applies to almost all products, with exceptions for food, feed, medicinal products, plants and animals.
Only products that meet the applicable ecodesign requirements will be allowed on the EU and EEA market.
The European Commission is currently developing specific ecodesign requirements for various product categories. The first priority product groups include:
In addition, reparability requirements will apply to selected product categories, including electronics and household appliances.
Electronic products will also be subject to requirements related to recyclability and recycled content. These requirements will be introduced progressively up to 2029.
Additional product groups will become subject to ecodesign requirements as new EU work plans are adopted.
As much as 80% of a product’s environmental and climate impact is determined during the design phase. For this reason, the regulation enables the introduction of up to 16 different types of ecodesign requirements, including requirements relating to:
The regulation also introduces a ban on the destruction of unsold textiles and footwear, as well as transparency requirements related to the handling of unsold goods.
All products covered by ecodesign requirements will also be required to have a Digital Product Passport (DPP). The Digital Product Passport will support lifecycle traceability and provide information including:
For businesses that fail to prepare for the upcoming ecodesign requirements, the consequences could be significant.
Non-compliance may result in:
Early preparation is therefore critical for maintaining access to key markets and avoiding costly compliance issues.
Responsibility for ensuring compliance will typically involve several functions within a company, including:
There are significant advantages to preparing early for ecodesign requirements.
Early action can provide:
NORSIRK offers tailored advisory services to help businesses navigate this complex and rapidly evolving regulatory landscape.
Our circular economy advisors can help your business:
Contact NORSIRK Advisory Services
