32024R1781

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?

Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 aims to significantly improve the circularity¹, energy performance and other environmental sustainability aspects of products placed on the European Union (EU) market.

KEY POINTS

• This framework regulation replaces and enlarges the scope of the current ecodesign directive (Directive 2009/125/EC – see summary). It becomes then the legal basis for assessing and setting ecodesign² requirements via delegated acts. Ecodesign requirements could be set either for a specific product group or horizontally (more than one product group) on the basis of a regularly updated pluriannual working plan.
• The regulation is part of a package of measures that are central to achieving the objectives of the 2020 circular economy action plan, one of the central pillars of the European Green Deal.
• Ecodesign requirements, if suitable, could potentially cover any physical good put into service or placed on the EU market with some exceptions, such as food and feed, along with medicinal products and vehicle aspects already covered under sector-specific EU legislation. Defence- and national security-related products of non-dual use will not be addressed via ecodesign requirements.
• It provides for the detailed assessment of the feasibility and subsequent setting of ecodesign requirements designed to:
  • improve products’ durability, reusability, upgradability and reparability;
  • make products more energy and resource efficient;
  • tackle the presence of substances that inhibit circularity;
  • increase recycled content;
  • make products easier to remanufacture and recycle;
  • reduce carbon and environmental footprints;
  • improve the availability of information on product sustainability;
  • address the destruction of unsold consumer products.

Digital product passport

The regulation also introduces a digital product passport (DPP), a digital identity card for products, components and materials.

• The DPP stores relevant information to support products’ sustainability, promote their circularity and strengthen legal compliance.
• The information is accessible electronically, making it easier for consumers, manufacturers and authorities (including customs) to assess sustainability, circularity and regulatory compliance.
• The information included on the DPP will depend on the specific product in question but can include:
  • technical performance;
  • materials and their origins;
  • repair activities;
  • recycling capabilities;
  • life cycle environmental impacts.

Green public procurement

The regulation includes the possibility of setting minimum mandatory requirements to be fulfilled by public authorities within the EU when purchasing products covered by the regulation via green public procurement criteria.

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

The regulation has applied since 18 July 2024. It enables the adoption of further product-specific measures as from 19 July 2025.

BACKGROUND

For further information, see:

• Ecodesign for sustainable products regulation (European Commission)
• Circular economy action plan (European Commission).

KEY TERMS

1. Circularity. The degree to which, when a product reaches the end of its life, its materials can be productively used again and again, thereby creating further value.
2. Ecodesign. The integration of environmental sustainability considerations into the characteristics of a product and the processes taking place throughout the product’s value chain.

MAIN DOCUMENT

Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for sustainable products, amending Directive (EU) 2020/1828 and Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 and repealing Directive 2009/125/EC (OJ L, 2024/1781, 28.6.2024).

RELATED DOCUMENTS

Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 July 2023 concerning batteries and waste batteries, amending Directive 2008/98/EC and Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 and repealing Directive 2006/66/EC (OJ L 191, 28.7.2023, pp. 1–117).

Successive amendments to Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions – A new Circular Economy Action Plan – For a cleaner and more competitive Europe (COM(2020) 98 final, 11.3.2020).

Directive (EU) 2020/1828 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2020 on representative actions for the protection of the collective interests of consumers and repealing Directive 2009/22/EC (OJ L 409, 4.12.2020, pp. 1–27).

See consolidated version.

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions – The European Green Deal (COM(2019) 640 final, 11.12.2019).

Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-related products (recast) (OJ L 285, 31.10.2009, pp. 10–35).

See consolidated version.