EU regulation on Ecodesign for Sustainable Products comes into force

The EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) comes into force today, mandating Digital Product Passports (DPPs) for most products (excluding food and medicine) by 2030. These passports will contain unique identifiers and machine-readable features to track a product’s lifecycle and offer recycling advice. This regulation aims to improve information exchange, boost recycling rates, and build trust between consumers and businesses.

An Ecodesign Forum is planned for late 2024 or early 2025 to create a comprehensive implementation plan by March 2025. The first products needing DPP compliance are batteries, which in 2027 must include data carriers like QR codes or barcodes linked to a DPP database. This initiative presents a significant challenge, requiring substantial IT infrastructure and data management to meet the Commission’s deadlines.

Businesses must ensure their systems are DPP-compatible to facilitate smooth information flow throughout the supply chain. Aligning member states and ensuring interoperability will test the DPP’s capabilities, and the transition period is expected to be challenging. However, stakeholders believe the economic and sustainability benefits will outweigh the difficulties.

For consumers, DPPs will encourage informed purchasing by providing detailed information on product disposal and repair, supporting the circular economy. With virgin materials becoming scarcer and more expensive, companies will likely introduce buy-back and reward schemes to improve resource efficiency, similar to initiatives like Apple’s Take Back program.