The European Commission has presented a package of European Green Deal proposals to make sustainable products the norm in the EU.
As announced in their Circular Economy Action Plan, the Commission is proposing new rules to make almost all physical goods on the EU market more friendly to the environment, circular, and energy efficient throughout their whole lifecycle from the design phase through to daily use, repurposing and end-of-life.
The proposal for a Regulation on Ecodesign for Sustainable Products includes Digital Product Passports, which are set to make repairing or recycling products and facilitating tracking substances of concern along the supply chain easier.
The Commission has also presented an EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles to make textiles ‘more durable, repairable, reusable and recyclable’, to tackle fast fashion, textile waste and the destruction of unsold textiles, and ensure their production takes place in full respect of social rights.
Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal Frans Timmermans commented on the announcement: “It’s time to end the model of ‘take, make, break, and throw away’ that is so harmful to our planet, our health and our economy.
“Today’s proposals will ensure that only the most sustainable products are sold in Europe. They allow consumers to save energy, repair and not replace broken products, and make smart environmental choices when they are shopping for new ones.
“This is how we bring balance back in our relationship with nature and reduce our vulnerability to disruptions in global supply chains.”
A third proposal aims to boost the internal market for construction products and ensure that the regulatory framework in place is fit for making the built environment deliver on the EU sustainability and climate objectives.
Furthermore, the package includes a proposal on new rules to empower consumers in the green transition so that they are better informed about the environmental sustainability of products and better protected against greenwashing.
More information about this announcement is available on the European Commission website.
