European Parliament sets path for better products for people and environment

This is the vision set by the European Parliament in a report calling for better Ecodesign. According to the European Environmental Bureau the European Parliament has voted today in favour of measures to make consumer goods, like TVs and other home appliances, longer lasting and repairable.

Praising the Ecodesign policy, which saves consumers energy and money, they are also want to see faster decision-making and better market surveillance. The Coolproducts coalition said the vote is an important step forward to reduce waste and protect consumers. Coolproducts is a campaign led by the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and ECOS working to ensure a better product policy for European citizens and the environment.
With today’s vote, the Parliament has requested the introduction of resource efficiency requirements in the EU legislation on product design known as Ecodesign.

The report argues that better product design is necessary to transition to a circular economy, where waste is prevented, and to meet the agreed national targets to curb CO2 emissions.
Ecodesign have so far mainly focused on making fridges, TVs and other appliances more energy efficient – generating both energy and monetary savings across the EU.

Stephane Arditi, policy manager at the EEB and coordinator of Coolproducts, said:
“Europe’s ‘take-make-use-throw’ economy is costing consumers money and choking our environment. Given its success, it makes sense to expand ecodesign to make products that last longer and are easier to repair and recycle.”

Arditi added:
“With 80% of the environmental impacts of products determined at design stage, better product design is necessary to transition to a circular economy.”

It is now expected that the EU Commission, and the national authorities, will take up the recommendations supported by an overwhelming majority of the directly elected members of the European Parliament.

The clear call of the European Parliament for an ambitious implementation of the Ecodesign policy comes just in time as Commission and Member States are currently finalising a package of up to 20 product-specific measures, which should be adopted in November.