What is ESPR (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation)?

The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) is a proposed EU regulation aimed at improving the sustainability, durability, reparability, and recyclability of products sold in the European Union. It introduces mandatory ecodesign requirements for a broad range of product groups and is set to transform the way products are designed, manufactured, marketed, and disposed of.

One of the key pillars of ESPR is the mandatory implementation of Digital Product Passports (DPPs). These digital records will accompany physical products and provide essential information on:

• Materials and chemical content
• Environmental footprint
• Repair and disassembly instructions
• Recycled content and circularity
• Compliance with sustainability criteria

This makes ESPR and DPP inseparably linked. The ESPR defines which products require DPPs, what data must be included, and how it should be structured and accessed.

Without ESPR, there is no legal basis for Digital Product Passports in the EU.

• Full Name: Proposal for a Regulation establishing a framework for setting ecodesign requirements for sustainable products
• Published by: European Commission, March 30, 2022
• Legal Basis: Articles 114 and 191(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU)
• Current Status: [As of mid-2025] It has been politically agreed upon and is expected to enter into force in 2026, with implementation starting per product group via delegated acts.

• Reduce environmental and climate impacts of products
• Encourage reuse, refurbishment, and recycling
• Enhance resource efficiency and reduce waste
• Promote transparency through DPPs
• Support eco-innovation and green business models

ESPR applies to nearly all product categories, except:

• Food
• Feed
• Medicinal products
• Living organisms (e.g., plants, animals)

Priority groups for early implementation:

• Textiles
• Furniture
• Batteries
• Consumer electronics
• Construction materials

Each product group will have its own Delegated Acts, which will define:

• The specific ecodesign criteria
• The DPP data model
• Compliance and enforcement procedures

Manufacturers, importers, and distributors will be required to:

• Design products in compliance with new ecodesign standards
• Generate and maintain Digital Product Passports for regulated items
• Provide access to DPP data via QR codes, serial numbers, or unique identifiers
• Update product data across the lifecycle (e.g., repairs, upgrades)

Authorities will conduct market surveillance, while non-compliance may lead to:

• Product recalls
• Fines
• Market exclusion

If your business sells physical products in the EU, ESPR will affect:

• Product design processes
• Supply chain transparency
• Digital infrastructure (you’ll need systems to manage DPPs)
• Data governance and access rights

This creates a massive demand for:

• DPP generation tools
• Compliance platforms
• Third-party integrations
• Traceability and blockchain solutions

This is where tools like DPPBuilder come into play, helping businesses of all sizes prepare for the upcoming ESPR and DPP requirements.

• Get ahead of regulation by aligning with ESPR before it becomes mandatory
• Differentiate your products with green claims backed by real data
• Build trust and transparency with consumers
• Tap into ESG investing and green procurement criteria
• Automate DPP creation with solutions like DPPBuilder.com

The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) is not just an environmental policy—it's a game-changing framework that will reshape entire industries within the European Union. By integrating Digital Product Passports at the core of product compliance, ESPR demands that businesses think digitally, act sustainably, and build transparently.

Preparing for ESPR today ensures you’ll stay compliant tomorrow—and puts you at the forefront of Europe’s sustainable product revolution.