European Parliament votes for ambitious ecodesign rules that will bring us closer to a circular economy
The proposal for an Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) [1] is unprecedented – aiming to make all products sustainable by default. In today’s vote, the European Parliament has demonstrated willingness to go even further, giving a clear signal that Europeans demand sustainable products. The existing Ecodesign Directive has already successfully reduced the emissions and improved the circularity of many products since its entry into force in 2009. This update will extend those proven victories and sustainability requirements to many more sectors – driving forward implementation of the European Green Deal.
Follow the European Parliament’s lead on the ESPR
The ESPR is a landmark piece of legislation with the potential to transform products on the European market and beyond – from consumer to industrial products. It sets a precedent that will bear fruits for years to come.
The negotiating positions of the European Parliament [2], just voted, and Council [3], agreed at the end of May, are now clear, and so are the opportunities that lie ahead during trilogues. Strong ecodesign rules for products help to create an energy efficient, circular, and toxic-free economy – a transition that, so far, has been too slow [4]. The ESPR will accelerate this transition – if policymakers transform the European Parliament’s ambitious call into concrete action.
ECOS has long campaigned for the EU to raise its sustainability ambitions using expanded ecodesign principles that focus on more products and sectors. The European Parliament’s position reflects the environmental and health concerns of Europeans by reducing the destruction of unsold goods, including material footprints as an indicator for success of the ESPR, and defining premature obsolescence. It also addresses chemicals by demanding full transparency across the value chain.
Likewise, the European Parliament has built on the Commission’s proposal when it comes to enforcement. MEPs voted to make the oversight process of an Ecodesign Forum more inclusive – but more can still be done, like properly funding civil society to participate. Unlike the Council, the Parliament also took a strong stance regarding market surveillance to ensure an effective enforcement of ESPR requirements. However, economic operators are treated differently because there is less clarity on the role and responsibilities of online marketplaces.
Valeria Botta, Head of Circular Economy & Nature at ECOS – Environmental Coalition on Standards, said:
“Today’s vote is a major accomplishment. The ESPR is a key piece of legislation with a ripple effect that will reverberate for years. It opens the door for many sectors to finally be put under the spotlight – reconceptualising how products must be designed.
The European Parliament has shown willingness to lead, calling for an end to premature obsolescence, a ban on the destruction of unsold goods (starting with textiles and electronics), a reduction of chemical pollution from everyday products, and a focus on addressing the EU’s harmful material footprint.”
There is no time for complacency: we must not leave individual sectors behind – including construction
The ESPR offers an ambitious framework to deliver on the Green Deal. But the real measure of its success will take place at sectoral level. When individual sectors are tasked with implementing the ESPR, the EU must maintain a high bar.
That is the case of construction products, such as bricks, windows, and insulation, which are regulated by the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) [5]. Voted on by the European Parliament in plenary yesterday, the CPR is supposed to implement ESPR principles for the construction sector. But the text MEPs voted for includes very few sustainability requirements, leaving the sector’s environmental footprint largely unregulated. Without ESPR-like minimum requirements set by law, construction rules will be largely set in standards – and these are developed almost unimpeded by the construction industry.
Construction products emit 250 million tons of CO2 annually and are responsible for up to 50% of all raw materials used and 35% of all waste generated in the EU every year. Allowing this immensely polluting sector to regulate itself is a huge misstep that jeopardises the EU’s net zero ambitions and – if we are not careful – could undermine the ambitions of the ESPR.
ENDS
Notes to editors
[1] European Commission’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) proposal: https://environment.ec.europa.eu/publications/proposal-ecodesign-sustainable-products-regulation_en
[2] Negotiating position of the European Parliament:
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-9-2023-0218_EN.html#_section3
[3] General Approach of the Council of the European Union: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/05/22/ecodesign-regulation-council-adopts-position/
[4] European Court of Auditors, ‘Special report 17/2023: Circular economy – Slow transition by member states despite EU action’: https://www.eca.europa.eu/en/publications/SR-2023-17
[5] Construction Products Regulation (CPR) proposal: https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/construction/construction-products-regulation-cpr/review_en
Contact
If you have questions, please contact me:
Alison Grace
Press & Communications Manager at ECOS
alison.grace@ecostandard.org
+32 493 19 22 59
ECOS – Environmental Coalition on Standards is an international NGO with a network of members and experts advocating for environmentally friendly technical standards, policies, and laws.
