Europe
We would like to inform you of a significant new EU regulation—the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR)—which came into force on July 18th, 2024, replacing the previous 2009 legislation. This regulation is designed to make products more environmentally friendly and to better inform consumers about the sustainability of the items they buy. As part of this initiative, a digital product passport (DPP) will be introduced, serving as an online information card that indicates a product’s sustainability.
What does this mean?
The new law sets stringent standards for products to enhance their sustainability. This includes requirements for products to:
• Have a longer lifespan (durability)
• Be easier to reuse (reusability)
• Be easier to repair (repairability)
• Include more recycled materials
What products does this regulation apply to?
This Regulation applies to any physical goods that are placed on the market or put into service, including components and intermediate products.
However, it does not apply to:
- food as defined in Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002;
- medicinal products as defined in Article 1(2) of Directive 2001/83/EC;
- veterinary medicinal products as defined in Article 4(1) of Regulation (EU) 2019/6;
While cosmetics, medical devices, and biocidal products are regulated by their specific frameworks (the EU Cosmetics Regulation, Medical Devices Regulation, and Biocidal Products Regulation, respectively), the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) could influence all three sectors by promoting sustainability in product design, packaging, manufacturing processes, and end-of-life management. For medical devices however, the European Commission must ensure that any ecodesign requirements do not compromise the health and safety of patients and users. This means that sustainability measures for medical devices will be carefully balanced to maintain their essential functionality and safety.
Please note that the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) is a framework legislation. This means that there are no concrete new rules for specific products yet. Concrete product rules will be decided progressively over time, on a product-by-product basis, or horizontally, based on groups of products with similar characteristics. The process will begin with a prioritization exercise, followed by the publication of a working plan that outlines the products and measures to be addressed under the ESPR for a given time period. The development of product rules will then proceed through inclusive planning, detailed impact assessments, and stakeholder consultations via an Ecodesign Forum.
Source: https://www.ncv-cosmetica.nl/actueel/nieuwe-eu-regels-voor-duurzame-producten/