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Driving Sustainability: The EU's Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and Energy Labelling Regulations

Picture a scenario where every product you purchase is crafted with the environment in mind. The European Union (EU) is turning this vision into a reality through its groundbreaking ESPR and Energy Labelling Regulations.

Illustration by Saee Ghule
Written by Intan Pamungkas
Edited by Saee Ghule

The ESPR is an ambitious framework aimed at making sustainable products the norm by setting design requirements for a wide range of products to enhance their environmental sustainability1. Meanwhile, the Energy Labelling Regulation empowers consumers by providing clear information on the energy efficiency of products, thus promoting the purchase of energy-efficient options. Both of these regulations will aid in reducing carbon footprint, thus enhancing sustainability. In this article, let's explore how these regulations work and how we can use them to make informed, eco-friendly choices.

Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR)

ESPR sets requirements to enhance environmental sustainability of all physical products placed on the EU market, including components like tires and intermediate products1. This regulation updates and expands upon the previous Ecodesign Directive 2009/125/EC, which primarily focused on energy-related products. Some of the key measures introduced by the ESPR are:

  • Digital Product Passport (DPP): This serves as a digital identity card for products, components, and materials that stores relevant information related to their sustainability and environmental impact.
  • Rules to Address Destruction of Unsold Consumer Products: There are also rules introduced to prevent the unnecessary destruction of unsold goods (as is the practice in EU), thus, reducing the wastage of valuable resources.
  • Green Public Procurement: Guidelines that are introduced to ensure that public procurement processes also bprioritize sustainable products1.

Energy Labelling Regulation

While the ESPR targets manufacturers, pushing them to design more sustainable products, the Energy Labelling Regulation focuses on consumers. It provides information about the energy efficiency of products, influencing consumer choices and encouraging the purchase of energy-efficient products.

The EU's energy labelling history can be traced back to 1976, when standardized labels were introduced to indicate energy consumption for household appliances. Over time, these labels have been refined to feature an energy efficiency scale ranging from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient), colour-coded from dark green to red as per the 2017/1369 regulation. In 2021, QR codes were introduced on labels, providing detailed product information. Subsequently, The European Product Registry for Energy Labelling (EPREL) was launched in 2022, allowing consumers to compare the energy efficiency classes of different products2,3. You can access the EPREL database at https://eprel.ec.europa.eu/screen/home .

Effectiveness of the Regulations

The Ecodesign Impact Accounting (EIA) Annual Report highlights the effectiveness of the ESPR and Energy Labelling Regulations. In 2020, these measures saved 1038 TWh of primary energy, rising to 1072 TWh in 2022, equating to a 10% and 12% reduction compared to business-as-usual scenarios. For 2020 EU27 households, this resulted in a 24% electricity savings, 7% fuel savings, a reduction of 380 kg CO2eq in emissions, and 197 euros (6%) in user expenditure savings4.

Kep2.png

The current energy label (Picture from the European Commission).

Items in the label are numbered from 1 until 7 with each of them explained below:

  1. Language-neutral logo of energy. The bolt in the word ENERG replaces a desinence that varies in different EU languages2.
  2. QR code with the link to EPREL (as mentioned above)
  3. Energy efficiency classes according to regulation 2017/1369
  4. Energy efficiency class of the product
  5. Annual energy consumption based on the average consumption of the product per year.
  6. Indication of additional non-energy parameters. This parameter varies depending on the product, such as the volume of the chill compartment(s) of the refrigerator in litres, the water consumption in the dishwasher in litres, etc.
  7. Reference to the regulation

How to Use Energy Labels When Purchasing Energy-Related Products

1. Pay Attention to Energy Ratings: Choose products with high energy ratings, preferably at least C. Ratings with green colours are A, B, and C, with A and B reserved for the most efficient products and C for a relatively high-standard product. Ratings with yellow to red shades are D, E, F, and G, which fall into lower-rated products.

2. Use the EPREL Website: Read the product details on the EPREL database and, if needed, compare it with other products to find the most energy-efficient options. When comparing products, only compare products with the same size and features as larger and more feature-rich products might consume more energy.

Choosing Energy-Efficient Second-Hand Products

As a student, you might often buy second-hand products. Here’s how to choose the most energy-efficient second-hand product:

1. Research the Specific Model: Look on EPREL for the product information sheet. Choose second-hand products with higher energy ratings and check if the minimum guarantee, availability of spare parts and product support is still valid at the time of purchase.

2. Inspect for Usage: Check for signs of excessive use that could impact efficiency.

3. Seek Updated Information: Some manufacturers may provide information on older models in the newer version of the product. Learn how to use the second-hand product to maintain its efficiency.

4. Pay Attention to the Model's Version and Maintenance History: Recent models are likely to be more energy-efficient than older models. However, well-maintained older appliances can still be relatively efficient for their age. Read details of the second-hand product and ask the previous owner about the history of repair and maintenance to get a better insight into choosing between recent or older models.

By understanding the EU's Ecodesign and Energy Labelling Regulations, one can make informed choices that support sustainability. Each eco-friendly decision we make contributes to the well-being of our planet and offers lasting financial advantages. Therefore, when making purchases in the future, allow the energy label to steer you toward a more efficient, environmentally friendly path.

References

  1. 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 (Text with EEA relevance).
  2. Directorate-General for Energy. (2022). History of Energy Labelling in the EU. European Commission. https://energy-efficient-products.ec.europa.eu/ecodesign-and-energy-label/understanding-energy-label/history-energy-labelling-eu_en
  3. Consolidated text: Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2013 of 11 March 2019 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to energy labelling of electronic displays and repealing Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1062/2010 (Text with EEA relevance)Text with EEA relevance
  4. Ecodesign Impact Accounting (EIA) Annual Report 2023