Ecodesign: new EU rules to make sustainable products the norm

On Thursday, the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) adopted its position on revising the EU’s ecodesign framework for sustainable products with 68 votes in favour, 12 against and 8 abstentions.

Longer product lifespans and better-informed consumers

The report bans premature obsolescence, which means that manufacturers must not limit the lifetime of a product through design features and must make available software updates, consumables, spare parts and accessories for an appropriate period. Products should also be easy to repair and consumers should have access to repair guidelines.

Products may only be sold if accompanied by a “product passport”, containing accurate and up to date information. This passport would enable consumers and businesses to make informed choices when purchasing products, facilitate repairs and recycling, and increase transparency about the environmental impact of what they are buying. MEPs want consumers to be able to compare product passports through an online platform.