Ecodesign Regulation: Council gives final approval

On 27 May, the Council of the European Union adopted the new Ecodesign Regulation, which sets requirements for sustainable products.

The Regulation will replace and enlarge the scope of the current Ecodesign Directive, hence extending its scope beyond energy-related products and including all kinds of goods placed on the EU market.

Key product aspects under the Regulation include requirements on recycled content, environmental footprint, resource use and efficiency, energy use, possibility of recycling and possibility of recovery of materials.

The Ecodesign Regulation is framework legislation, which does not set specific measures, rather it enables their later adoption. In the upcoming years, this will set specific product requirements via a thorough stakeholder process.

Product information will have a strong focus, thus instruments like digital product passports, labels and information requirements will become increasingly important. The specifics will be worked out through stakeholder input and adopted via delegated acts.

Furthermore, the new Regulation adds new tools and instruments, such as mandatory green public procurement criteria for contracting authorities or contracting entities.

Following the Council’s approval, the legislative act is now adopted. Once signed by the President of the European Parliament and the President of the Council, it will then be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and will apply 24 months later.