Ecodesign: new EU rules to make sustainable products the norm

Products to last longer and be easier to repair, upgrade and recycle

Ban on destroying unsold clothing and footwear

Sustainability requirements should be prioritised for e.g. steel, textiles, furniture, tyres, chemicals

On Tuesday, Parliament adopted the revised ecodesign framework, which will enable the introduction of environmental sustainability requirements for most products sold in the EU.

The regulation was adopted with 455 votes in favour, 99 against and 54 abstentions. The new rules aim to improve various aspects of products throughout their lifecycle to make them more durable and reliable, easier to reuse, upgrade, repair and recycle, use less resources, energy and water. Specific product requirements will be outlined by the Commission through secondary legislation.

Priority products

The law asks the Commission to prioritise a number of product groups in its first working plan, including iron, steel, aluminium, textiles (notably garments and footwear), furniture, tyres, detergents, paints, lubricants and chemicals.

Better-informed consumers

Digital “product passports” containing accurate and up-to-date information will enable consumers to make informed purchasing choices. The Commission will manage a public web portal allowing consumers to search and compare information included in product passports.

Bans on the destruction of unsold consumer products

The rules specifically ban the destruction of unsold apparel, clothing accessories and footwear, two years after the entry into force of the law (six years for medium-sized enterprises). In the future, the Commission may add additional categories to the list of unsold products for which a destruction ban should be introduced.

Quote

Rapporteur Alessandra Moretti (S&D, IT) said: “It is time to end the model of “take, make, dispose” that is so harmful to our planet, our health and our economy. New products will be designed in a way that benefits all, respects our planet and protects the environment. Sustainable products will become the norm, allowing consumers to save energy, repair and make smart environmental choices when they are shopping.”

Next steps

Council needs to formally approve the law as well before it can come into force.

Background

The revised ecodesign rules, proposed by the Commission in March 2022, establish a general framework for setting sustainability requirements. They are part of a circular economy package and will apply to almost all products on the internal market (except food, animal feed, medicinal products, and living organisms).

In adopting this legislation, Parliament is responding to citizens' expectations to build a circular economy by promoting sustainable EU products and production, and to support the shift to a sustainable and resilient growth model, as expressed in Proposals 5(1), 5(7), 5(10), 11(1) and 11(2) of the conclusions of the Conference on the Future of Europe.