What you need to know about the ESPR
What is the ESPR? Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation
The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) aims to improve the durability, sustainability, and recyclability of products sold in the EU. This new regulation extends from existing rules for energy related products to cover all physical goods including clothing, furniture, and tires with few exceptions. Concretely, it introduces a few requirements:
The EU can create performance standards for recycled content, durability, and/or sustainability in future delegated acts
This regulation introduces the concept of the Digital Product Passport (DPP), which would contain information about recycled content, how to get an item repaired, and other sustainability information
Labelling rules will be defined in future delegated acts - similar to the energy labels on home appliances we already have
After July 2026, unsold products cannot be destroyed or disposed of (for medium sized companies, the deadline is in 2030)
Who does the ESPR apply to?
The ESPR will be implemented in waves - but the obligations will apply to manufacturers, importers, and distributors regardless of size. In April 2025, the European Commission published their ambitions for defining the first wave of requirements:
2027: Textiles, Apparel, Tires, Iron, Steel, consumer electronics, and household appliances
2028: Furniture
2029: Mattresses
If you’re in any business selling physical products, the ESPR can eventually impact your business.
How does the ESPR impact small & medium sized businesses?
Businesses that manufacture textiles, apparel, tires, consumer electronics, household appliances, iron, or steel can expect additional requirements. The specifics depend on delegated acts, expected starting in 2027. At a minimum, these will include:
Submitting information required by the Digital Product Passports
Meeting performance standards - these could be anything from durability, recycled content, to other sustainability critera such as water usage or GHG emissions
Maintaining documentation that performance standards are met
Distributors, importers, and retailers have an obligation to ensure that the products they sell are compliant. In addition, they must make sure that the information in the digital product passport (such as repairability) is available to the customer.
Ready for the next step?
Need to ensure your business is aligned with the latest environmental regulations? Contact us for a consultation on how the ESPR and the other new laws of the EU Green Deal impact your operations and discover opportunities for growth and sustainability.
New regulation doesn’t have to translate into higher costs or risks - we’re experts at finding the opportunities to grow your business in a rapidly changing context.
