BRUSSELS — Textiles, furniture, tires and mattresses will be subject to much
stricter design standards to ensure they last longer, as the EU aims to stamp
out wasteful consumption, the European Commission confirmed on Wednesday.
Steel and aluminum will also be included in the first wave of regulations under
the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), along with a range of
electronic goods from mobile phones to fridges and washing machines.
The ESPR is intended to embed durability, repairability and recyclability into
the design of certain products, with the goal of reducing waste, improving
energy efficiency, and boosting the EU’s circular economy. The framework
legislation came into law last July, but requires delegated acts before it
applies to specific products.
The 2025-2030 working plan, adopted Wednesday, lays out a roadmap for the ESPR
for the next five years, and includes a working plan for the related Energy
Labelling Regulation. Chemicals, plastics and footwear had originally been
included in the first wave of proposed rules, but were withdrawn earlier this
year.
The adoption of the working plan marks “a pivotal moment” that will “deliver
significant benefits for all Europeans, create opportunities for businesses and
employment, and protect the planet through proven impact on reducing emissions,”
EU industry chief Stéphane Séjourné said in a statement.
“These ecodesign rules apply to all products placed on our single market,
regardless of their origin-country, ensuring that each of them meets the
European Union’s ambitious goals,” he said.
The Commission said the particular rules would now be said through delegated
acts “on a product-by-product basis or for groups of similar products.”