What is the EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation?

Dutch term: Ecodesign-verordening | Legal basis: Regulation (EU) 2024/1781

The EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR, Regulation (EU) 2024/1781) establishes a framework for setting performance and information requirements for products placed on the EU market, covering durability, repairability, recyclability, energy efficiency, resource use and carbon footprint. It replaces and significantly expands the scope of the earlier Ecodesign Directive (2009/125/EC).

Product-specific requirements will be set through delegated acts for defined product categories. The regulation also introduces the digital product passport (DPP) as a mandatory information tool, and includes provisions on the destruction of unsold consumer products. The ESPR applies to virtually all physical products on the EU market, not just energy-related products.

Why it matters for international businesses

For manufacturers and importers, the ESPR represents a fundamental expansion of product compliance from safety to sustainability. The phased rollout (starting 2025-2026 for priority product categories) requires early preparation.