The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) recently entered into force with the aim of making sustainable products the norm.

In this report, the relevance of a number of product groups and horizontal requirements for potential action under ESPR was evaluated on the basis of several parameters: environmental impacts and improvement potential, market relevance, policy coverage in the EU, cost reflections, and contribution towards an EU Open Strategic Autonomy.

As a result of the analysis, eleven final products (Textiles and footwear, Furniture, Tyres, Bed mattresses, Detergents, Paints and varnishes, Lubricants, Cosmetics, Toys, Fishing gears, Absorbent hygiene products), seven intermediate products (Iron and steel, Commodity chemicals, Non-ferrous, non-aluminium metal products, Aluminium, Plastic and polymers, Pulp and paper, Glass) and three horizontal requirements (Durability, Recyclability, Recycled content) are identified as potential priorities for the next steps of preparation of the first ESPR Working Plan.

This report represents the Joint Research Centre’s (JRC) final analysis of new product priorities for the ESPR. However, the results illustrated are not final decisions: they do not bind the Commission, and are without prejudice to what may ultimately be prioritised for first action under ESPR, included in the first ESPR Working Plan, or undertaken under other EU policy frameworks.

First remarks from ESF :

• Product Groups : Textiles and footwear are of course featuring in the top priorities, together with tyres, furniture, detergents, toys, etc. Intermediate products prioritized cover iron, steel and aluminium (e.g. relevant for PPE for fall protection). For the priority group “textiles and footwear”, PPE according to Regulation (EU)2016/425 and Medical Devices according to Regulation (EU)2017/745 are excluded (see Product fiche 9 Textiles and footwear starting on page 230)
• Horizontal requirements : Proposed horizontal requirements for first consideration are durability, recyclability and recycled content. Page 38 provides a list of potential provisions (e.g. extended duration of minimum guarantee, spare part (and software upgrade) availability and delivery time, introduction of a recyclability scoring index/label). The JRC has not included repair as a potential horizontal requirement for product group for now, although some aspects can be found under durability.
• Important to know : This study aims at informing the first ESPR working plan (to be published in mid-April 2025), but the study does not bind the European Commission to follow its recommendations, although we feel it is most likely to do so.

The study is added as attachment and is also available on the ESF extranet.

Link to the document on the JRC website : https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC138903