Ecodesign Regulation: Polymers too complex

Polymers are too complex to be included as a separate product group in the ESPR.

The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) entered into force in July 2024. The European Commission will now work on its implementation by establishing product-specific ecodesign rules through secondary legislation.

In addition to end products such as tyres, iron and steel, chemicals are also listed as a priority product group. The VCI already commented on this during the consultation on product prioritisation in 2023 and spoke out against the inclusion of chemicals as a separate product group. According to the latest information, there will also be a separate product group for polymers under the ESPR and this will already be integrated into the first work plan.

In this setting, the VCI opposes the inclusion of polymers in the working plan. Chemicals and polymers are highly diverse groups of materials that are used in numerous applications and industries. A blanket regulation would therefore lead to considerable challenges and unintended consequences for the entire value chain.