Preparing for the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation

This report describes how Swedish industry can prepare for forthcoming requirements under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), with a particular focus on horizontal repairability requirements and on the furniture sector as a priority product group. 

The ESPR delegated acts will progressively define binding requirements for product groups and horizontal measures, including durability, reliability, repairability, remanufacturability, disassembly, material traceability, recyc¬led content, recyclability and Digital Product Passports. Although the exact requirements will be introduced stepwise, the direction is already clear. Swedish companies, authorities and industry associations therefore need to begin preparing before final delegated acts are adopted. 

For the furniture sector, the main preparedness priorities are durability, repairability, disassembly, remanufacturing/refurbishment and traceable product information. Furniture companies should already begin reviewing product architectures, joints, adhesives, upholstery, coverings, mecha-nisms, fasteners, wear parts, repair manuals and material information. 

Companies should treat ESPR preparedness as product management and business development, not only as regulatory compliance, and should be understood as capability-building. These capabilities will support both compliance and circular business models such as take-back, resale, repair, refurbishment, remanufacturing and material recovery.