European Union
Improving product sustainability over whole life cycle
On June 28, 2024, the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) published the European Regulation on Ecodesign (EU) 2024/1781 (the "Regulation").
This Regulation affects a wide range of products and aims to reduce the negative environmental impact of these products during their life cycle.
It establishes:
- Ecodesign requirements, which may consist of performance requirements, information requirements or both.
- The European Commission is empowered to specify the design requirements for the different product groups. Generally, the industry will be given a minimum period of 18 months to implement these requirements.
- Among the information requirements, the "digital product passport" stands out as a key tool, enabling stakeholders across the product's value chain to access relevant information.
- Restrictions to prevent the destruction of unsold goods, particularly products that have not been offered for sale or have been returned by consumers.
- Obligations for various economic operators involved in the product lifecycle:
- Manufacturers
- Importers
- Distributors
- Fulfilment service providers
- Operators of reuse and recycling systems.