• Aim is to make products last longer and be easier to repair, upgrade, recycle
• A ban on the destruction of unsold textiles and electronic appliances
• Commission to prioritise ecodesign requirements for e.g. steel, textiles, furniture, tyres, chemicals

The Environment Committee put forward its proposals to make products in the EU more environmentally friendly, circular and energy efficient throughout their lifecycle.

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.

See related article: https://esgnews.com/eu-and-chile-to-develop-lithium-and-green-hydrogen-projects/

Ban on the destruction of unsold products

Economic operators which destroy unsold goods would have to report the annual number and percentage of products they discarded as well as their reasons why. Based on this information, MEPs want the Commission to identify products for which a destruction ban should be introduced. Additionally, the report asks for a specific ban on the destruction of unsold textiles and footwear as well as electrical and electronic equipment, one year after the entry into force of the law.

Priority products

MEPs want the Commission to prioritise a number of product groups in its first working plan to be adopted within three months after the entry into force of the new rules. These priority products include iron, steel, aluminium, textiles (notably garments and footwear), furniture, tyres, detergents, paints, lubricants and chemicals.

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Rapporteur Alessandra Moretti (S&D, IT) said: “It’s time to end the “take, make, dispose” model which is so harmful to our planet, our health and our economy. This law will ensure that new products are designed in a way that brings benefits to all, respects our planet’s boundaries and protects the environment. Sustainable products will become the norm allowing consumers to save energy, make repairs easier and make smart environmental choices when they shop, saving themselves money in the long run.”