Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR)
Core Thesis
ESPR is not only an environmental product regulation. It is a new operating model for placing products on the EU market. Future requirements will combine product performance, sustainability data, substances of concern, digital product information, conformity assessment, public procurement incentives and value-chain transparency.
Executive Summary
The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), Regulation (EU) 2024/1781, is the EU framework for setting ecodesign requirements for sustainable products. It was published in the Official Journal on 28 June 2024 and entered into force on 18 July 2024. [1]
ESPR replaces the narrower energy-related ecodesign approach with a broad product-sustainability framework. It allows the European Commission to define performance requirements and information requirements for specific product groups through delegated acts. These requirements may address durability, reliability, reusability, upgradability, repairability, maintenance, refurbishment, remanufacturing, recycling, energy and resource efficiency, environmental footprint, carbon footprint, recycled content, waste generation and the presence of substances of concern. [1]
The first Working Plan for 2025-2030 was adopted by the Commission in April 2025 and identifies priority product groups including steel and aluminium, textiles with a focus on apparel, furniture, tyres, mattresses and several energy-related products, as well as horizontal measures on repairability and recyclability of electrical and electronic equipment. [2][3]
Executive insight
The most material impact of ESPR is not one single new compliance obligation. It is the convergence of product design, chemicals management, sustainability metrics, digital product-passport data, supply-chain evidence and market-access governance.