Commission launches Ecodesign Forum to help accelerate progress on sustainable products

The expert group will gather a wide range of stakeholders, including specialists appointed by Member States, as well as representatives from industry, civil society and academia.

The Commission has established a new Ecodesign Forum – an expert group that will help it make sustainable products the norm within a strengthened, competitive EU Single Market.

The Ecodesign Forum is set to play a pivotal role in implementing the new Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), which establishes a comprehensive framework for setting mandatory performance and information requirements on products.

These ecodesign requirements will help make products more sustainable and create a stronger EU single market. It will also ensure stakeholder participation when energy-labelling requirements for energy-related products are developed.

The Forum will gather a wide range of stakeholders, including experts appointed by Member States, as well as representatives from industry, civil society and academia. It will be consulted on all key steps of the ecodesign process, including the development of ecodesign requirements and the preparation of ESPR working plans, which will set out the products and measures to be addressed over a given period.

The call for applications for members of the Forum opens today. The Commission will assess all valid applications received by noon on 5 December 2024 in a first assessment phase. Organisations and individuals appointed to represent a common interest wishing to apply for membership of the Forum must meet the selection criteria and follow the instructions set out in the call. Representatives of Member States and other public entities will be appointed through direct invitation from the Commission.

This collaborative, cross-sectoral approach, successfully pioneered under the EU’s Ecodesign and Energy Labelling framework will foster transparency, engagement and co-creation under ESPR.

It will also help accelerate progress towards the final objective of reducing the environmental footprint of products throughout their lifecycle, driving innovation and improving the functioning of the Single Market for green products.

Source: European Commission | Energy, Climate change, Environment (Environment) | News (https://shorturl.at/9GzUa)