RKD’s response follows an invitation from Ireland’s Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Department of Environment, Climate and Communications.

In March 2022, the European Commission published its proposal for a new Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). The proposed ESPR is the cornerstone of the Commission’s approach to more environmentally sustainable and circular products, and builds on the existing Ecodesign Directive, which currently only covers energy-related products.

To help inform the Irish position on negotiations on the European Commission’s proposed ESPR, Ireland’s Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Department of Environment, Climate and Communications jointly invited submissions through a public consultation process.

RKD’s Sustainability + Research team harnessed extensive practical knowledge of sustainable design across a wide range of sectors and project types to develop a concise submission around 5 key themes:

1. Approach – the “how”: How are products going to be rated? Acknowledging the success and familiarity of existing energy-related product information graphics, our concept adapts and expands this approach for applicability to all products.