Ecodesign

Focus on sustainable products

Questions of saving resources and CO²-emissions are moving closer into the focus of product design and consumer preferences, aiming at a higher awareness of sustainability and circular economy. With respect to electronic and IT devices, legislations no longer focus on energy efficiency only. Substance restrictions, availability of software and spare parts as well as information on repair maintenance play an ever more important role. The legal framework has been in place for a long time: in form of Directive 2009/125/EG as well as Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 for labelling energy consumption. By passing the Circular Economy Action Plan 2020, the EU Commission has strengthened her demand for more sustainable electronic and IT devices. Meanwhile, in many countries outside the EU legal rules have been established, often using EU laws as their basis of legislation.