EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR)

February 2026

Reporting Requirement

ESPR Implementing Regulation 2026/2 sets disclosure format for discarded unsold products
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2 establishes a standardized format for disclosing information on discarded unsold consumer products under ESPR. Large enterprises must report the number, weight, and reasons for discarding products categorized by Combined Nomenclature (CN) codes, the proportion delivered to waste treatment operations, and measures taken to prevent destruction. A 5-year record-keeping requirement applies. Applies from March 2, 2027 for large enterprises; medium-sized enterprises from July 19, 2030; micro and small enterprises are exempt.

Reporting Requirement

Commission adopts implementing regulation laying down common details and format for annual disclosure on discarded unsold consumer products under ESPR Article 24
On 9 Feb 2026, the European Commission adopted a Commission Implementing Regulation (C(2026) 660 final) laying down rules for application of Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 (ESPR) as regards the details and common format for the mandatory annual disclosure of information on discarded unsold consumer products (ESPR Article 24). The implementing act standardises how companies must report (including product category delineation using Combined Nomenclature (CN) codes and the required disclosure tables/templates in annexes) and includes documentation/recordkeeping and verification principles for competent authorities (risk-based approach described in annexes). Compliance teams should align internal data collection, classification (CN coding), and evidence retention processes to the required format to ensure future disclosures are complete and auditable.

Regulation Change

Commission adopts delegated regulation setting derogations from the ESPR prohibition on destruction of unsold apparel/footwear
On 9 Feb 2026, the European Commission adopted a Commission Delegated Regulation (C(2026) 659 final) supplementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 (ESPR) by specifying derogations (exceptions) to the ESPR Article 25 prohibition on destruction of unsold consumer products for the Annex VII categories (apparel/clothing accessories/footwear). The delegated act operationalises when destruction may be permitted and the conditions/evidence expectations relevant for competent-authority verification (per the act and explanatory memorandum). Compliance teams in relevant sectors should map current returns/unsold goods handling workflows to the derogation conditions, implement decision controls and evidence retention, and update internal policies ahead of the ESPR ban’s application to large companies referenced in Commission materials.

Regulation Change

Commission adopts Delegated Regulation on ESPR destruction ban derogations for unsold textiles
Commission Delegated Regulation C(2026) 659 final establishes specific derogations from the ESPR prohibition on destruction of unsold apparel, clothing accessories and footwear. Permitted derogations include: health/hygiene/safety reasons; damage that cannot be cost-effectively repaired; unfitness for intended purpose; non-acceptance of products offered for donation; unsuitability for preparing for reuse or remanufacturing; unsaleability due to intellectual property rights infringement; and destruction being the option with least negative environmental impacts. Destruction ban takes effect 19 July 2026 for large enterprises and 19 July 2030 for medium-sized enterprises.

Reporting Requirement

Commission adopts Implementing Regulation on standardized disclosure format for discarded unsold products
The European Commission adopted Implementing Regulation C(2026) 660 final under the ESPR, establishing standardized rules for disclosing information on discarded unsold consumer products. The regulation requires disclosure of Combined Nomenclature codes, quantities and weights of discarded units, reasons for discarding, and proportions prepared for reuse, recycling, recovery, or disposal. Large companies must comply with the standardized format from February 2027; medium-sized companies from 2030.

Exemption Update

Commission adopts Delegated Regulation defining ESPR destruction ban derogations
The European Commission adopted Commission Delegated Regulation C(2026) 659 final establishing six specific derogations from the prohibition on destruction of unsold apparel, clothing accessories, and footwear under ESPR. Companies may destroy unsold products only under defined circumstances: health/hygiene/safety reasons, irreparable damage during handling or detected after return, non-acceptance of products offered for donation, unsuitability for preparing for reuse or remanufacturing, unsaleability due to intellectual property rights infringement, or when destruction represents the option with least negative environmental impacts. Documentation requirements apply. The regulation takes effect alongside the destruction ban on July 19, 2026 for large enterprises and extends to medium enterprises from July 19, 2030.

Deadline Update

ESPR destruction ban takes effect for large enterprises July 2026
Under ESPR Article 20, the prohibition on destruction of unsold apparel, clothing accessories, and footwear takes effect on July 19, 2026 for large enterprises. Medium-sized enterprises must comply from July 19, 2030. The ban covers products under CN codes 4203, 61, 62, 6504, 6505 (apparel and clothing accessories) and 6401, 6402, 6403, 6404, 6405 (footwear). Companies must implement alternative practices such as resale, donation to social economy entities, reuse, repair, refurbishment, or recycling instead of destruction. The February 2026 delegated regulation defines specific derogations under which destruction may still be permitted.

Public Comment

European Commission issues draft standardisation request for precast concrete products requiring EN 15804+A2-aligned environmental sustainability characteristics and PCR development
The European Commission (DG GROW) published a draft standardisation request (standardisation mandate) addressed to CEN to revise/draft harmonised standards for precast concrete products under the Construction Products Regulation framework. The draft explicitly links environmental sustainability essential characteristics to lifecycle assessment and Product Category Rules (PCRs) and references EN 15804:2012+A2:2019+AC:2021 as the methodological basis for environmental declarations in this context. The document includes a feedback deadline (3 March 2026) and indicates intended target dates (e.g., annex tables referencing 30 Oct 2026) for delivery/adoption of standards. For EPD/EN 15804 compliance teams (especially construction product manufacturers), this is an early but actionable signal that future harmonised product standards may embed EN 15804-aligned environmental declaration mechanics (via PCRs and required indicators) into EU product documentation (e.g., DoP/DoPC workflows) once finalized and implemented.

December 2025

Guidance Update

European Commission publishes First CPR Working Plan 2026–2029 (COM(2025) 772) outlining rollout of harmonised specifications that will operationalise environmental sustainability declarations (EPD/EN 15804-based)
The European Commission published the First CPR Working Plan for 2026–2029 (COM(2025) 772 final). The Working Plan is an implementation roadmap under the revised Construction Products Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2024/3110) describing how harmonised technical specifications will be developed/updated and made mandatory via implementing acts. For EPD/ISO 14025/EN 15804 stakeholders, this is a key compliance-planning signal because it frames how ‘environmental sustainability characteristics’ will be integrated into construction-product documentation and declarations through the CPR acquis process and related standardisation work, which is expected to rely on EN 15804-based methods for environmental performance declaration. Compliance teams should use this to anticipate timing and prioritisation of product-family standard updates that will drive when EPD-derived data becomes required within CPR declarations for specific construction product categories.

Public Comment

UK DESNZ consultation proposes amending ecodesign rules so CE recognition continues for products subject to future EU ESPR ecodesign measures
DESNZ opened a consultation on a proposed technical amendment to UK ecodesign regulations to ensure Great Britain’s CE-recognition framework continues to apply to products regulated under future EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) measures. The consultation explains that without updating references from the older EU Ecodesign Directive framework, CE recognition in GB may not automatically cover products meeting new ESPR-based EU requirements, potentially forcing additional UK-specific conformity steps. This is a proposed change; compliance teams in scope of ecodesign should consider responding and track the resulting statutory instrument, as it affects whether CE-marked ecodesign products remain accepted in GB.

April 2025

Guidance Update

Commission adopts ESPR and Energy Labelling Working Plan 2025-2030
The European Commission adopted the first ESPR and Energy Labelling Working Plan 2025-2030 (COM(2025) 187 final), establishing priority product groups for delegated acts development under the ESPR framework. Iron and steel products are prioritized for 2026, aluminium and textiles (garments and footwear) for 2027, with furniture, tyres, detergents, paints, lubricants, chemicals, and ICT products to follow. The plan also carries forward 19 energy-related products from the Ecodesign Directive 2009/125/EC for adoption by December 31, 2026. A mid-term review is scheduled for 2028. The Working Plan sets indicative timelines for when specific product sectors can expect binding ecodesign requirements.

Guidance Update

European Commission adopts Ecodesign for Sustainable Products and Energy Labelling Working Plan 2025–2030 (COM(2025) 187 final) setting priority product groups and timelines
On 16 Apr 2025, the European Commission adopted the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products and Energy Labelling Working Plan 2025–2030 (COM(2025) 187 final). This is a key ESPR implementation milestone that sets the Commission’s priority product groups and indicative timelines for preparing future delegated acts (which will contain binding ecodesign requirements) as well as horizontal measures (e.g., repairability). Compliance teams can use the Working Plan to prioritize product readiness efforts (data, design, supply chain information) for product groups expected to be regulated earlier and to anticipate upcoming consultations and delegated-act development cycles.

June 2024

Regulation Change

Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 (ESPR) published on EUR-Lex as the in-force framework regulation
EUR-Lex publication of Regulation (EU) 2024/1781, the core legal act establishing the EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) framework. This is the binding baseline for subsequent delegated/implementing acts (e.g., product-group ecodesign requirements, Digital Product Passport rules, and rules on destruction/disclosure for unsold consumer products). Compliance teams should use this as the authoritative legal anchor when mapping ESPR obligations and tracking future implementing measures.