The new EU Ecodesign Regulation also requires Swiss companies to make their products more sustainable and introduce a digital product passport. This affects almost all product categories and requires adjustments to production and documentation in order to secure access to the EU market. In this article, we explain what to look out for.
The new EU Ecodesign Regulation: challenges and opportunities for Swiss companies
The European Union is pursuing an ambitious goal with the new Ecodesign Regulation (EU 2024/1781): it wants to significantly reduce the ecological footprint of products and make Europe climate-neutral by 2050. The regulation, which replaces the previous directive from 2009, expands the requirements and significantly extends the scope of application. For Swiss companies that offer their products on the EU market, the regulation brings with it significant changes and challenges. The following article sheds light on the background, the most important provisions and explains what Swiss companies need to do to fulfil the requirements.
Background and objectives of the Ecodesign Regulation
The new Ecodesign Regulation is part of the comprehensive “European Green Deal”, which is intended to drive forward climate protection as the EU’s sustainability strategy. With the Climate Law and the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) as its main pillars, the regulation aims to reduce the environmental impact of products – from production to use and disposal. Through specific requirements for energy consumption, material composition and other environmental aspects, the EU aims to increase environmental efficiency and reduce waste. This is also intended to promote competition on the European market by prioritising sustainable products.
Significant expansion of the scope of application
The previous Ecodesign Directive was limited to energy-related products such as washing machines, refrigerators and other household appliances. The new regulation, on the other hand, covers almost all products sold on the EU market – from furniture and textiles to toys and construction products. Only a few products such as food, medicines or defence equipment are exempt from the regulation. The extension of the scope of application ensures that a wide range of consumer and capital goods must be designed sustainably.
Who is affected?
The regulation is aimed at all “economic operators” within the supply chain who place products on the market or put them into service. This includes:
- Manufacturers: They are primarily responsible for complying with the requirements, particularly with regard to sustainability and product information.
- Authorised representatives and importers: Companies that import products into the EU must ensure that they comply with the new standards.
- Retailers and distributors: In future, retailers will also have to ensure that the products they sell comply with the ecodesign standards.
- Fulfilment service providers: Even logistics companies that store and deliver products for the EU market must comply with certain requirements.
An important detail for Swiss companies: There is no general SME exemption. In principle, the regulation also applies to small and medium-sized enterprises if they sell products on the European market.
The key requirements of the Ecodesign Regulation
The regulation defines clear requirements for the sustainability and transparency of products. Two key elements are the specific sustainability requirements and the digital product passport (DPP).
- Sustainability requirements
In future, products must fulfil certain performance standards defined by the EU. These include, among others:
- Energy efficiency requirements: Minimum values for energy consumption and emissions that ensure products operate efficiently throughout their lifetime.
- Material requirements: The proportion of recycled materials in products is regulated and certain harmful substances are restricted or banned.
- Durability and reparability: Products must be designed in such a way that they can be easily repaired, which is achieved by banning certain technologies and materials. The aim is to extend the lifespan of products and reduce dependence on resources.
- Prohibition of the destruction of unsold products: Unsold products may no longer be disposed of or destroyed without further ado, but must either be recycled or reused.
These requirements not only promote sustainability, but also transparency towards consumers, who are increasingly interested in the environmental friendliness of the products they buy.
- The Digital Product Passport (DPP)
One of the most significant innovations is the introduction of a digital product passport (DPP). Products may only be placed on the market in the EU if they have a DPP that contains electronically retrievable information about the product. The DPP includes
- Declarations of conformity: This confirmation proves that the product complies with the ecodesign requirements.
- Sustainability scores: Information on the durability and reparability of the product to help consumers in their purchasing decisions.
- Product information and environmental parameters: Information on the ecological properties of the product, such as the CO₂ footprint or material composition.
The DPP is accessible via QR codes or watermarks on the product or its packaging and is intended to enable consumers to make an informed purchasing decision.
Implementation of the ordinance for Swiss companies
As the regulation also applies to Swiss products that are exported to the EU market, early preparation is essential for companies. Swiss companies that supply products to the EU must undergo the conformity assessment procedures before their products can be placed on the market. Failure to do so can result in severe fines, exclusion from public contracts and even claims for damages.
Timetable and transitional periods
The Ecodesign Regulation officially came into force on 18 July 2024. However, delegated acts, which define specific requirements for various product groups, are not expected to take effect until July 2025. From then on, companies will have a transitional period of 18 months to implement the ecodesign requirements – this means that the binding provisions will not become mandatory until the end of 2026 at the earliest.
Effects on company processes
Compliance with the new Ecodesign Regulation requires comprehensive integration into existing company processes, from product development to reporting and logistics. Here are some measures that Swiss companies should consider:
- Reviewingand adapting product development: existing products may need to be revised to fulfil the requirements for energy consumption and material use.
- Adaptation of production processes: Increased use of recycled materials and compliance with energy efficiency standards will require investment and possibly changes in production technology.
- Documentation and traceability: The introduction of the digital product passport requires accurate documentation of the environmental characteristics of products and effective data management.
- Training for employees: As the requirements are complex and require continuous adjustments, employees at all levels should be trained in dealing with the new standards.
Conclusion and outlook
The EU’s new Ecodesign Regulation brings with it far-reaching changes that should have a positive long-term impact on the environment and sustainability in the European market. For Swiss companies supplying the EU market, it is essential to address these requirements at an early stage in order to minimise potential risks and remain competitive. Even if some details will only be finalised through the delegated acts, companies can already start adapting their processes and preparing for the new standards.
By embracing the new requirements, companies can not only minimise risks but also seize the opportunity to act as pioneers in terms of sustainability – a factor that is becoming increasingly important in a competitive environment.
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