Up to 80% of a product's environmental impact is set at the design stage (European Commission, 2020). EU law now follows this logic. Since July 2024, EU ecodesign rules can cover almost every physical product, not only products that use energy. From 19 July 2026, large companies may no longer destroy unsold clothes and shoes. If you design products for the EU market, your next product brief should list durability, repair and recycled content next to cost.
- Ecodesign: you cut a product's impact over its whole life cycle through choices made at the design stage.
- Main levers: materials, energy use, durability, repair, recycling and fewer harmful substances.
- EU law: the ESPR, Regulation (EU) 2024/1781, sets product rules step by step, with a digital product passport.
- Tools: a life cycle assessment (LCA) and a product carbon footprint show which stage to change first.
What is ecodesign?
Ecodesign means you design a product with its impact on the planet in mind over its whole life. This covers raw materials, production, transport, use and, at the end, recycling.
The aim is to reduce the harm a product does to nature. You do this when you cut the use of energy and raw materials, and the emissions of CO₂ and other harmful substances. It is one of the tools to build a circular economy.
You can compare it with normal design. Both look at the cost of production. But here, you also count the cost to nature of materials and processes, not only the money you spend on them.
How does ecodesign reduce environmental impact?
Good design can greatly reduce the harm caused by making and using goods. It works through three kinds of choices:
- Raw materials: prefer materials that grow back and materials with a low impact.
- Production: make processes leaner and use less energy.
- End of life: design products that are easy to take apart and recycle.
In this way, design puts the rules of the circular economy into practice.
Examples of ecodesign that works
Here are some examples:
- packaging you can use many times;
- modular products that are easy to repair and upgrade;
- bio-based materials and plastics that break down naturally.
These ideas reduce the impact of products. They also meet the demand of customers for greener products.
What does EU law require?
For years, EU ecodesign rules covered only products that use energy, under Directive 2009/125/EC. The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), Regulation (EU) 2024/1781, came into force on 18 July 2024. It extends the rules to almost all physical products on the EU market. Food, feed, medicines and vehicles are among the exceptions.
The ESPR sets the frame. Separate acts then set the rules for each product group. They can cover:
- durability, reliability and how easy a product is to repair, upgrade or reuse;
- energy and resource use;
- recycled content and how easy a product is to recycle;
- substances of concern;
- the product's carbon footprint and wider footprint on nature;
- the information you must give, including a digital product passport.
The Commission's plan for 2025–2030 names the first product groups. They include textiles, furniture, tyres, mattresses, steel and aluminium. Existing rules for energy-related products stay in force until new acts replace them.
The ESPR also bans the destruction of unsold clothes, clothing accessories and shoes. The ban applies to large companies from 19 July 2026 and to medium-sized companies from 19 July 2030. For producers, this means that green duties now start at the design stage. The design team must have data to meet them.
How does ecodesign fit into the circular economy?
Ecodesign is a basic part of the circular economy. The circular economy aims to cut waste through reuse, repair, rebuilding and recycling. When you design products to last long, to be repaired and to be recycled with ease, you use less raw material and energy. This leads to lower CO₂ emissions.
Which materials and digital tools support ecodesign?
The choice of materials and the use of data decide a large part of the result. Three areas matter most.
Materials with a low impact
The basis is the choice of raw materials that grow back and have a low impact on nature. This includes natural materials and materials from recycling. When you use them, production does less harm to the planet. When you also limit hazardous substances, the approach of Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) helps you assess chemicals and materials early.
Digital tools
Digital tools, such as big data, the Internet of Things (IoT) and 3D printing, open new options for design. They help you study and improve how you make things. They also help you fit products to the needs of each user, so products last longer and create less waste.
New ways to recycle and reuse materials
New ways to recycle and reuse materials play a key role in ecodesign. Examples include better ways to sort waste, new ways to process it and new materials made from recycled content. They show how new tools can support green design.
How does ecodesign affect a product's life cycle?
Ecodesign looks at every stage of a product's life, not only at the factory. Three stages need the most attention.
Assessing the impact from production to recycling
Assessing a product's impact on nature is a key step in ecodesign. A life cycle assessment (LCA) helps you find and reduce harm at each stage of the life cycle. It covers raw materials, production and use, and ends with recycling.
Delivery and use
Green design also looks at how products are delivered and used. For example, you can plan transport to cut CO₂ emissions. You can also design products that use less energy while people use them. All this improves the result over the whole life cycle.
Dropping harmful materials and processes
A key part of ecodesign is to stop using harmful materials and processes. Examples are toxic dyes and production methods that use a lot of energy. This reduces harm to nature. It also makes products healthier and safer for users.
What are the practical benefits of ecodesign?
Ecodesign brings benefits to business and to society. They show in three areas.
Less use of natural resources and fewer harmful emissions
The basic benefits are a lower use of natural resources and fewer harmful emissions. This prevents damage to nature and protects human health. Over time, people and business both gain.
Better energy efficiency and lower running costs
Good design also makes products use less energy. This lowers running costs for users and cuts greenhouse gas emissions. It is an important step towards climate goals.
A stronger market position
Green design helps nature, and it also makes a company stronger on the market. Companies that use ecodesign well earn the trust of customers and win against competitors.
How can EXERGY help with ecodesign?
We calculate product carbon footprints under ISO 14067.
We measure emissions over the whole life cycle of a product, from raw materials to recycling.
We assess a product's impact with LCA.
We find the stages with the largest impact and show where you can improve them.
We fit our work to your real needs.
We go beyond formalities. We respond to your requirements and design solutions for your business and sector.
We check your data and keep it consistent.
We help you organise and confirm the data used in the analysis, so your reports are reliable and ready for audit.
We use our own methods and tools.
We built our own methods and tools for carbon footprint calculations. They give high quality, the same each time.
