The branch chamber of the woodworking and furniture industry informs about new ecodesign rules for almost all products on the EU market, which came into force on July 18 this year, with furniture marked as a priority. The goods must be energy efficient, durable, repairable and recyclable, among other environmental characteristics. The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) aims to increase the sustainability of products on the market. It extends the scope of the existing Ecodesign Directive to cover almost all physical goods and aims to improve circularity, energy performance and environmental sustainability. But are companies ready for this change?!
Why is this important?
Ecodesign integrates environmental requirements into every stage of product development. In a world that increasingly demands efficient and sustainable products, this approach is believed to be crucial to reducing harmful emissions and reducing energy and resource consumption.
Expanding impact
The EU has a tradition of promoting energy efficiency, familiar energy labels on household appliances have already been introduced. However, the new regulation goes further by requiring products to display one or more of the following sustainability characteristics:
Reduced energy consumption
Extended service life
Easy fix
Simplified disassembly for reuse
Less hazardous substances
Better recyclability
Increased content of recycled materials
Lower carbon footprint throughout the life cycle
Environmental sustainability is actually conceived as more than energy efficiency and in practice aims to ensure that products are designed with their entire extended life cycle in mind.
Specific product requirements
According to the new ESPR regulation, products must be designed with sustainability in mind. This includes increasing their durability, repairability, as well as improving resource efficiency and recyclability.
However, the regulation does not list specific requirements. As a first step, a plan will be developed in which the priority product groups for eco-design will be specified. In the first such delegated act, to be adopted by 19 April 2025, the Commission will prioritize certain product groups (including iron, steel, aluminium, textiles, furniture, tyres, detergents, paints, lubricants and chemicals).
Digital passport
For the first time, the regulation introduces a digital passport that will aim to provide information on the environmental sustainability of products placed on the single market. It becomes mandatory for all goods regulated by ESPR. It will store detailed and up-to-date information on the environmental performance of each product, including the manufacturing process, materials used, energy efficiency and disposal guidelines. The aim is to increase transparency and enable consumers to make more informed purchasing decisions based on sustainability data.
Waste ban
From 2026, the regulation introduces a ban on the destruction of unsold textiles and footwear, which is mandatory for all member countries. Companies that dispose of unsold goods - with the exception of clothing, clothing accessories and footwear, which are subject to a disposal ban - will be required to report annually on the quantities of discarded products and their associated causes. In case of violations, Member States will determine the penalties.
Supply Chain Rules
The new rules are primarily aimed at manufacturers who are responsible for designing and producing goods that meet ESPR requirements, including sustainability and recyclability criteria. Manufacturers have yet to prepare by carrying out conformity assessment procedures and preparing the necessary technical documentation before placing on the market or putting into service a product subject to ecodesign requirements.
The responsibility for complying with the requirements is also transferred to the next stages of the supply chain. For example, importers must ensure that the products they import into the EU comply with the new regulations. Distributors and retailers are also required to check the compliance of the products they sell, including proper labeling and compliance with sustainability standards set by ESPR.