The European Ecodesign Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) was finally approved by the Council on 27 May 2024. It is now expected to be published in the Official Journal by July.
This regulation establishes a general framework for introduction of environmental sustainability standards for most products placed on the European market, with a few exceptions such as vehicles.
It introduces new design requirements such as recycled content, durability, reparability, reusability, energy and resource efficiency, remanufacturing, recycling, carbon and environmental footprint.
With regard to unsold textiles and footwear, the ESPR introduces a ban on destruction and authorises the European Commission to introduce similar bans for other products in the future.
The operationalisation of the regulation will be provided by delegated acts that will be product or product category specific and it is these delegated acts that will specify the circularity performance that companies will have to communicate to the market and the consumer.
Following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union, it will enter into force on the 20th day after its publication. It will apply 24 months after its entry into force.
Many companies think there is still time before they tackle the issue without due consideration of the commitment required to apply environmental specifications to products: 2027 is just around the corner.