What is the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR)?

The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) is a cornerstone of the EU Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP). It expands the older Ecodesign Directive beyond energy-related products to cover nearly all physical goods placed on the EU market.Under ESPR, manufacturers must meet new sustainability and design requirements related to:Material composition and recycled contentSubstances of concern, including POPs, SVHCs, and CLP-regulated chemicalsDurability, reparability, and upgradabilityCarbon and environmental footprintRecyclability and resource efficiency

What’s new under ESPR compared to the old Ecodesign Directive?

ESPR introduces broader product scope, deeper data requirements, and faster compliance timelines. Delegated acts will set specific sustainability criteria for product groups — with the first expected between 2025 and 2027. Once finalized, companies will typically have 18 months to comply.Key updates include:A Digital Product Passport (DPP) for every product, containing verified sustainability and compliance data accessible to regulators, customers, and partners.A shift toward upstream supplier data collection, requiring information on substances of concern, recycled content, and life-cycle impact early in product design.Consideration of social sustainability data in future phases.A potential “lifetime” DPP model, requiring ongoing updates throughout a product’s lifespan.

How can Assent help manufacturers comply with ESPR?

Assent enables manufacturers to stay ahead of ESPR requirements through a unified platform that connects supplier engagement, data collection, and regulatory intelligence.Our solution helps you:Gather and validate substances of concern, recycled content, and carbon footprint data early in product development.Build and maintain Digital Product Passports (DPPs) aligned with ESPR and CE marking standards.Engage suppliers at scale to collect sustainability and compliance data efficiently.Track delegated acts and emerging requirements to anticipate changes before enforcement.