The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR, Regulation (EU) 2024/1781) is the EU's master framework for making products more sustainable. It entered into force on 18 July 2024 and replaces the Ecodesign Directive 2009/125/EC, dramatically expanding its scope from energy-related products to virtually all goods sold in the EU.
"ESPR is the most significant expansion of EU product regulation in two decades. It moves ecodesign from energy efficiency to full lifecycle sustainability."
— European Environment Bureau
What ESPR covers
ESPR can set ecodesign requirements for nearly any product sold in the EU. The regulation establishes a working plan (published every 3 years) that prioritises which product groups to regulate first. The 2022–2025 working plan covers:
- Textiles (apparel, footwear, household textiles)
- Furniture (including mattresses)
- Iron and steel
- Aluminium
- Chemicals (lubricants, detergents, paints)
- ICT products (smartphones, tablets, laptops)
- Batteries (covered by separate dedicated regulation)
What requirements can ESPR set?
For each product group, the Commission can set delegated acts specifying:
- Minimum durability and reliability standards
- Repairability and upgradability requirements
- Recycled content minimums
- Restrictions on hazardous substances
- Energy and resource efficiency thresholds
- End-of-life and recyclability requirements
- Digital Product Passport data requirements
DPP under ESPR
Article 9 of ESPR makes the DPP a core requirement. Each delegated act will specify exactly which data fields the DPP must contain for that product category. The DPP must be accessible via a data carrier (QR code, NFC, etc.) affixed to the product, its packaging, or its documentation.
The Ecodesign Forum
ESPR establishes an Ecodesign Forum — a stakeholder body involving industry, civil society, and member states — that advises on the working plan and individual delegated acts. Businesses can participate in consultations to shape DPP requirements for their sector.
Market Surveillance and Enforcement
ESPR requires member states to carry out market surveillance using the EU's RAPEX (rapid alert) system. Products without a valid DPP — or with a DPP containing false data — can be banned from the EU market, recalled, and destroyed at the importer's expense.