EU Moves Ahead on Ecodesign for Sustainable Products

The European Commission is progressing implementation of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), which entered into force in July 2024. Its first Working Plan, adopted in April 2025, sets ecodesign priorities through 2028, with preparatory work already underway for textiles and steel.

Recent measures include rules on destroying unsold consumer goods banning textile and footwear destruction except in limited cases, with disclosure requirements applying from February 2027. The Commission is also developing the Digital Product Passport, which will carry sustainability data for products sold in the EU, including those imported from outside it.