EU Regulation
ESPR – Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation
Background
Background
ESPR (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation), formally Regulation (EU) 2024/1781, is the EU's new framework for ecodesign requirements on physical products. The regulation entered into force on 18 July 2024 and replaces the previous Ecodesign Directive (2009/125/EC), which only applied to energy-related products.
ESPR significantly expands the scope – from energy-related products only to virtually all physical products sold on the EU market. The regulation is a cornerstone of the EU's Green Deal and Circular Economy Action Plan, aiming to make sustainable products the norm.
The most visible innovation is the requirement for a Digital Product Passport (DPP), which will make product data on material content, durability, repairability and recyclability available throughout the value chain.
Scope
Who is affected?
ESPR creates a framework for manufacturers, importers, distributors, and authorised representatives of physical products on the EU market. Concrete ecodesign and information requirements are established through delegated acts for defined product groups, including areas such as textiles, furniture, iron and steel, aluminium, tyres, detergents, and paints and varnishes. Companies need to follow the working plan and product-specific acts to determine which requirements and dates apply to their products.
Requirements
Key requirements
ESPR establishes a framework in which delegated acts set product-specific requirements. Depending on the product group, these may cover:
- Durability and lifespan: Durability, repairability, and upgradability characteristics
- Energy and resource efficiency: Efficient resource use across the lifecycle
- Recycled content and recyclability: Material requirements and design for material recovery
- Environmental footprint: Information or performance requirements, including climate impact
- Destruction bans: Prohibitions for the categories of unsold consumer products and dates specified in the Regulation or later acts
- Digital Product Passport (DPP): A passport where the applicable product-specific act requires one
- Information requirements: Product-specific information such as repairability, lifespan, and environmental impact
Timeline
Timeline and milestones
- 18 July 2024: ESPR regulation entered into force
- 18 July 2025: Commission to adopt the first work plan with prioritised product categories
- 19 July 2026: DPP registry provisions become applicable; destruction ban for unsold clothing, clothing accessories and footwear (Annex VII) takes effect for large enterprises
- 19 July 2030: Destruction ban also takes effect for medium-sized enterprises (small and micro enterprises are exempt indefinitely)
- 2026–2030: Delegated acts per product group adopted and applied progressively
Exact dates for specific product categories are determined through delegated acts. Companies should monitor developments closely for their product categories.
Compliance
Consequences of non-compliance
Where a product-specific ESPR requirement applies, non-compliance may mean:
- A covered product without the required passport or failing applicable ecodesign requirements cannot be placed on the market
- Market surveillance authorities may require correction, withdrawal, recall, or prohibition
- Member States determine penalties, which must be effective, proportionate, and dissuasive
- Destruction of unsold products in breach of an applicable ban may lead to separate penalties
Action plan
What should you do now?
- Monitor delegated acts: Identify which product categories are affected and when requirements take effect
- Inventory product data: Map what data you already collect and identify gaps against expected requirements for durability, material content and carbon footprint
- Evaluate product design: Analyse your products' durability, repairability and recyclability against upcoming requirement levels
- Prepare for DPP: Investigate how to collect, structure and provide product data in the format required for digital product passports
- Review the supply chain: DPP requires data from the entire value chain – start the dialogue with suppliers about material composition and environmental data
- Plan for destruction ban: Ensure you have processes for handling unsold products without destruction
- Link to existing CE work: Much of the technical documentation for CE marking overlaps with ESPR requirements
Verca
How Verca helps
Verca integrates ESPR requirements into the unified regulatory workflow. The platform's classification engine identifies which of your products are affected by published and upcoming delegated acts.
The product data already collected through the CE workflow – material information, risk assessments, test results, standard mappings – forms the foundation for the digital product passport. Verca is progressively extended with DPP-specific functionality as delegated acts are published.
By collecting CE documentation and ecodesign data in the same platform, you avoid duplication and ensure consistency. Verca monitors the development of ESPR standards and delegated acts and notifies you when requirements affecting your product categories are published.