Will EU Ecodesign Regulations (ESPR) boost business investment in Europe’s Circular Economy?

Early indications are not promising. Pioneer businesses that invested early in their products so that they could be repaired and disassembled, and then invested in reverse logistics and factories to take back their products for remanufacture, have been alarmed to read early drafts of well-intended product specific ecodesign regulations...

The world is crowded with unintended consequences – promoting diesel engines in passenger vehicles to reduce CO2 emissions is just one prominent European example. If ecodesign regulations end up discouraging pioneering early investors it will be because officials at DG ENV thought they had to use a ‘level playing field’ model requiring all OEMs to give away their intellectual property to third parties.

We want Ecodesign to succeed and we want business investment in remanufacture to grow. Having spent time with Commission officials during EU Green Week, we’re certain that they do too. We have a plan to agree a way forward.

Let us know if you need to know more. Contact us at erc@europeanreman.eu