The European Parliament has voted in favour of a revised ecodesign framework, introducing rules designed to promote a circular economy within the European Union.
The legislation, which passed on Tuesday (23 April) did so with 455 votes for, 99 against, and 54 abstentions. The rule seeks to improve the environmental impact of products throughout their lifecycle, including making them more durable, easier to repair and recycle, and reducing their resource and energy consumption.
In 2020, the European Union’s recycling rate stood at a meagre 13%, according to Eurostat, the bloc’s statistical office. It is this which the Parliament is looking to improve by way of its broader circular economy package, which this new rule is part of.
The circular economy is a way of thinking about how we use resources. Unlike our current linear model, which results in significant waste, a circular economy focuses on keeping products and materials in use for longer. The goal is to minimise waste and pollution, and to get the most out of the resources we already have.
“The time has come to move away from the ‘take, make, dispose’ model that is detrimental to our planet, health, and economy,” said rapporteur Alessandra Moretti. “The new rules will encourage the design of sustainable products that benefit everyone, protecting the environment and allowing consumers to save energy, repair items, and make informed choices.”
As part of the rule, the destruction of unsold apparel, clothing accessories and footwear will be banned, with the possibility for further categories of products to be added to the list down the line.
The text also introduces digital ‘product passports’ which contain information on performance, traceability, and compliance requirements. This data will be accessible to consumers on a public web portal, to help them make more informed purchasing choices.
The law asks the Commission to prioritise a number of product groups in its first working plan, including iron, steel, aluminium, textiles (notably garments and footwear), furniture, tyres, detergents, paints, lubricants, and chemicals.
The revised ecodesign rules, initially proposed by the Commission in March 2022, build upon the existing 2009 directive, which according to the EU has reduced energy consumption and benefitted consumers.
In 2021 alone, it is estimated to have saved consumers €120 billion and reduced annual energy consumption by 10% for products covered by the directive.
The proposed revision, if implemented, could lead to even greater energy savings by 2030. Estimates suggest potential savings of 132 Mtoe of primary energy, which is roughly equivalent to the EU’s current imports of natural gas from Russia.
While the European Parliament has approved this law, the text now needs the final approval from national governments to enter into EU law.
