ESPR: a new direction for product sustainability in Europe
How often, when standing in front of a shelf of products, do we ask ourselves which choice is truly sustainable? To answer this question, the European Union has introduced a major change which is set to redefine the rules of the game forever. It is not merely a proposal, but EU Regulation 2024/1781, better known as the ESPR (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation), which entered into force in July 2024. Its objective is both ambitious and necessary: to reduce the environmental impact of products, foster a truly circular economy, and drive industrial innovation.
With the introduction of this Regulation, the European Union takes a decisive step towards a development model in which sustainability becomes an integral part of the product, starting from its design phase.
The most significant change introduced by the ESPR is the shift from voluntary measures or sector-specific rules to mandatory design and environmental information requirements.
This means that sustainability will no longer be a marketing choice reserved for a select few, but a fundamental requirement for operating in the market. A minimum standard of environmental performance is therefore established, which all manufacturers will be required to meet. This move levels the playing field, definitively closing an era in which sustainability could be treated as an optional extra.
The Regulation extends the concept of ecodesign beyond energy efficiency, embracing a broader perspective that considers the entire product life cycle. Design will therefore take into account durability, repairability, reuse and recyclability, with the aim of reducing the overall environmental impact and the inefficient use of resources. In this context, sustainability will no longer be a secondary value, but a measurable design requirement.
This vision finally shifts the focus: the primary responsibility no longer lies solely with the consumer, who is expected to recycle correctly, but with the manufacturer, who must place better products on the market from the outset.
The scope of the Regulation is broad and covers the majority of physical products placed on the European Union market. Specific provisions will be defined progressively through delegated acts of the European Commission and will also affect the furniture sector, which will be required to engage with new approaches to design and supplier selection.
The Digital Product Passport
The real breakthrough in terms of transparency is the introduction of the Digital Product Passport (DPP). It can be seen as a true digital identity card for each product, a tool providing clear and accessible information on its composition, repair options, recycling methods and other key environmental aspects.
The Digital Product Passport will make structured data on composition, environmental performance and end-of-life management available, enabling more informed decisions throughout the entire value chain. This approach strengthens dialogue between manufacturers, industrial partners and the market, encouraging greater shared responsibility.
Is Domus Line ready?
Domus Line has operated for many years within a framework governed by stringent regulations on Ecolabelling and Ecodesign. The lighting and electrical luminaire sector has anticipated many of the principles that now underpin the ESPR, helping to develop well-established expertise and a culture of compliance integrated into the product development process. Our products are already designed to integrate seamlessly into digital traceability systems, making Domus Line a “safe harbour” for furniture manufacturers now facing these challenges for the first time.
This journey enables Domus Line to address the new regulatory framework with confidence and continuity, supporting partners in the furniture sector through an evolution that goes beyond regulatory compliance and translates into design value, industrial quality and environmental responsibility.
In this scenario, the supply chain takes on a central role. Furniture manufacturers will increasingly focus on building reliable, coherent systems, relying on partners capable of guaranteeing technical expertise, regulatory compliance and a long-term vision. Circular economy thus becomes a structural element of industrial collaboration.