EU Ecodesign Directive

The EU Ecodesign Directive (Directive 2009/125/EC) was the European framework that set mandatory energy-efficiency and environmental-performance requirements for energy-related products (ErP), such as household appliances, lighting, electric motors and electronic devices. By setting minimum requirements for products placed on the EU single market, it removed the least efficient models and pushed manufacturers towards better design.

This directive has been superseded. The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), Regulation (EU) 2024/1781, entered into force on 18 July 2024 and repeals the 2009 Ecodesign Directive, while extending ecodesign far beyond energy use to almost all physical products. The old directive continues to apply on a transitional basis to certain product groups already covered by its implementing measures, until those measures are updated or replaced under the ESPR.

What ecodesign requirements aim to achieve

The purpose of ecodesign rules, under both the directive and the new regulation, is to reduce the environmental impact of products throughout their life cycle. Typical objectives include:

• Reducing energy and resource consumption, especially during the use phase.
• Improving durability, reparability and recyclability.
• Increasing the use of recycled materials.
• Supporting the circular economy and the EU's climate goals.

How the requirements work

A key point often misunderstood is that ecodesign requirements are not a single uniform threshold for all products. Instead, specific requirements are set product group by product group through implementing measures (under the directive) or delegated acts (under the ESPR). For each group, the rules may cover energy efficiency, minimum recycled content, reparability, expected lifetime or the information that must be provided. This is why obligations differ between, for example, a washing machine and a lighting product.

Historically, the directive worked together with the EU Energy Label to drive significant gains in energy efficiency across appliances and lighting placed on the EU market.

What the ESPR adds

The ESPR keeps the logic of product-specific requirements but broadens and deepens it. Among its main novelties are:

• Extension to nearly all product categories, with early priorities including textiles, furniture, iron and steel, aluminium and tyres.
• The introduction of the Digital Product Passport (DPP) to improve traceability and circularity.
• Measures to tackle the destruction of unsold consumer goods.

Related concepts

Ecodesign rules promote circular design and complement other instruments such as the Right to Repair Directive, the reparability index and the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF). For organisations that want to embed ecodesign into their management systems, the guidance standard ISO 14006 is a useful reference.

At Manglai we help companies measure their environmental footprint and prepare their sustainability reporting in line with EU product and climate rules. Discover how Manglai can help you.