How ESPR and Energy Labelling Are Shaping the Future of Sustainable Products

Introduction to ESPR

The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) came into force in July 2024, setting a new standard for sustainable product design in the EU. ESPR builds upon the existing Ecodesign and Energy Labelling Framework, which has already demonstrated significant success in reducing energy consumption, cutting CO₂ emissions, and driving industrial innovation.

By introducing harmonized sustainability requirements across Member States, ESPR aims to create a level playing field for businesses while ensuring that products last longer, use fewer resources, and are easier to repair and recycle. This regulation is expected to boost economic growth, resilience, and consumer confidence by making sustainability a core requirement for all physical products on the EU market.

What’s Changing?

ESPR expands upon existing ecodesign laws by allowing regulations for a wider range of products, including those that are not energy-related. This means that products will now have sustainability requirements related to:

✔ Durability & Repairability (e.g., availability of spare parts, repair scoring)
✔ Material Efficiency (e.g., use of recycled content)
✔ Environmental Footprint (e.g., carbon impact, resource use)
✔ Product Information & Transparency (via the Digital Product Passport and the European Product Registry for Energy Labelling – EPREL)

Which Products Are Prioritized?

To ensure an objective and transparent approach, Article 18 of ESPR requires the EU Commission to create a working plan that prioritizes product groups based on their environmental impact and potential for improvement. The first working plan (2025–2030) will focus on eleven key product categories:

Priority Product Groups in ESPR’s First Working Plan

1️⃣ Textiles (Garments & Footwear) – High environmental impact due to water use, pollution, and waste
2️⃣ Furniture (Including Mattresses) – Focus on durability, circularity, and sustainable material sourcing
3️⃣ Tyres – Need for better recyclability and increased recycled content
4️⃣ Iron & Steel – High energy consumption, large CO₂ footprint, crucial for EU industrial resilience
5️⃣ Aluminium – Critical raw material with significant potential for recycling and CO₂ reduction
6️⃣ Detergents – Medium environmental impact but lower improvement potential
7️⃣ Paints – Addressing microplastics and environmental impact
8️⃣ Lubricants – Energy and material efficiency improvements
9️⃣ Chemicals – Complex category; study commissioned to define future regulations
🔟 Energy-Related Products – Covering various appliances, electronics, and household items
🔟 ICT & Electronics – Covered under broader circularity and recyclability measures

The Role of Energy Labelling

The Energy Labelling Regulation (EU 2017/1369) is being aligned with ESPR to ensure clearer, more reliable consumer information about product sustainability. This includes:

✅ Updates to existing energy efficiency labels
✅ Integration of repairability and recyclability scores
✅ Expanded product categories covered under energy labelling

With 93% of consumers recognizing energy labels when shopping, this system has proven to drive demand for sustainable products while encouraging manufacturers to improve their designs.

Key Horizontal Measures: Repairability & Recyclability

Alongside product-specific regulations, ESPR will introduce horizontal measures that apply across multiple product categories.

🔧 Repairability Scoring & Spare Parts Availability – Products will have to be easier to repair, with transparent scoring and spare part availability.
♻️ Recyclability & Recycled Content – Electronics and other goods must include minimum recycled content, ensuring materials are recovered instead of discarded.

These measures align with the EU’s Right to Repair initiative and circular economy goals, making it easier for consumers to extend product lifecycles and reduce waste.

What’s Next?

The ESPR and Energy Labelling working plan will be implemented in two phases:

📅 2025-2027: Regulations set for priority product groups like textiles, furniture, and tyres
📅 2028-2030: Expansion to additional categories based on industry readiness and technological advancements

With sustainability becoming a regulatory requirement, businesses must prepare for stricter design, manufacturing, and supply chain standards. For consumers, this means more durable, repairable, and transparent products that reduce environmental harm.