In an industry increasingly shaped by sustainability and accountability, the Eco-design for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) has emerged as a pivotal framework for driving positive change. As part of the European Union’s Green Deal, the ESPR aims to promote a circular economy, reduce environmental impact, and set new standards for transparency in supply chains. But what exactly is the ESPR, and how does it affect businesses in the fashion and retail sectors? This article breaks down everything you need to know, including compliance requirements, timelines, and practical steps to align with the regulation.
The ESPR, or Eco-design for Sustainable Products Regulation, is an ambitious legislative framework introduced by the European Union. Its goal is to ensure that products placed on the EU market are designed with sustainability in mind. Unlike earlier regulations that focused solely on energy-related products, the ESPR extends its scope to a broad range of goods, including textiles and fashion items.
The regulation emphasizes:
By mandating sustainable practices, the ESPR aligns with broader EU sustainability initiatives, such as the Circular Economy Action Plan.
The ESPR applies to products placed on the EU market and assigns responsibilities to economic operators according to their role, including manufacturers, importers, distributors, authorised representatives and dealers.
The company placing a product on the EU market must ensure that the applicable product requirements have been met. Importers and distributors must perform the checks assigned to them before making products available, while suppliers may need to provide the product and supply-chain information required by the responsible economic operator.
The applicable obligations will depend on the product-specific measure. The ESPR should therefore not be interpreted as imposing the same immediate requirements on every company, supplier or retailer.
The ESPR has been in force since July 2024, but it is a framework regulation. Most obligations become applicable to individual products only through subsequent delegated or implementing acts.
These measures define the products covered, the applicable ecodesign and information requirements, the implementation date and any transition provisions.
Textiles and apparel are among the priority product groups identified in the 2025–2030 Working Plan. The relevant delegated act is expected in 2027, but the final date of application will be established in the adopted measure.
See the latest Digital Product Passport regulatory updates for the current implementation status.
Companies should begin by identifying the product categories they place on the EU market and monitoring the measures applicable to each category.
Preparation may include:
The purpose is to create an adaptable compliance process without treating requirements still under development as already mandatory.
The ESPR establishes a common framework, but compliance will depend on the requirements adopted for each product category and the role of the economic operator placing or making the product available on the EU market.
Renoon helps fashion companies understand the regulations affecting their products and translate them into product data, evidence, supplier processes and Digital Product Passport implementation.
Talk to our team about preparing for the ESPR.
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