The new EU Ecodesign Regulation came into force on July 18. This replaced the EU Ecodesign Directive, which had already been setting minimum environmental requirements for products since 2005. The scope of application has now been extended to new environmental aspects and almost all products. This does not affect vehicles, which have their own regulation in the form of the ELV (which is also being revised and extended). Durability, reusability, retrofittability and reparability, maximum levels of so-called substances of concern, resource efficiency, recyclate content, reprocessing and recycling, as well as information requirements such as the disclosure of the CO2 or environmental footprint are the requirements that will be regulated by the new regulation. Digital product passports are to be introduced for this purpose.

Over the next few years, separate regulations will be issued for each product group. Companies will then have 18 months to implement the requirements. There will be exemptions and support measures for small and medium-sized enterprises. The first specific product regulations are expected by the end of 2025. Work is already underway on regulations for textiles and steel.

You can find the original text here: Regulation – EU – 2024/1781 – EN – EUR-Lex (europa.eu)