What is ESPR and why should you care?

2026.03.27

If you sell products to the EU, ESPR (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation) will change how products are designed, made and sold. It aims to make sustainable products the “new normal” in Europe.

ESPR will cover almost all physical goods on the EU market, from electronics and textiles to furniture and packaging, with only a few exceptions such as food and medicines. This means many Hong Kong and mainland China brands will be affected, including SMEs.

What will ESPR look at?

Under ESPR, future EU rules for each product group may require that:

Products are durable and easy to repair or upgrade, instead of being quickly replaced
Harmful chemicals and other “substances of concern” are reduced and properly declared
Products are easier to reuse, remanufacture and recycle, and include more recycled materials
Key environmental information, such as carbon footprint and recyclability, is clearly shared

A key tool will be the Digital Product Passport (DPP) – a scannable QR code or tag giving trusted, digital information about a product’s materials, repair options and environmental performance.

What should businesses do now?

Although many detailed rules are still being drafted, EU regulators are also tightening green‑claim rules through initiatives like the Green Claims Directive, which will require solid evidence and third‑party verification for environmental claims. Companies supplying the EU should start to:

Review product design, materials and durability.
Map supply chains and collect environmental data from key suppliers.
Plan for reliable testing, certification and data management to support future DPPs and compliant green claims.

SGS can support you with testing, verification and digital information solutions to help you prepare for ESPR today.

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