Sustainability: Eco-design regulations and chemicals in products and process

If Europe wants to achieve its climate protection targets, roughly half of the reduction potential can be found in the area of products. Tapping into this potential is the task of the "Sustainable Product Initiative" as part of the European Green Deal, implemented primarily through the new Ecodesign Regulation (ESPR). Its primary aim is to extend the use phase of manufactured products and the materials they contain as far as possible. With furniture is at the top of the priority list of ecodesign implementation regulations that the European Commission is already preparing. Further requirements must be observed for the chemicals contained in the products (e.g. in REACH and RohS). These are intended to protect people and the environment from harmful effects both during the use of the products and as part of the R-strategies. Fulfilling the requirements for "material compliance" requires close cooperation with suppliers and their (upstream) suppliers. Here, the "digital product passport" now additionally anchored in the ecodesign regulations can significantly facilitate data exchange if it is possible not only to standardise the processes, but also to build trust in the reliability and timeliness of the data. This requires appropriate governance mechanisms.

In his presentation, Prof Dr Martin Führ will explain the relevant EU regulations and the opportunities for new, service-orientated business models within the European Union.