European Ecodesign Directive

The Ecodesign Directive (Directive 2009/125/EC)^[1] of the European Union establishes a framework to set mandatory ecological requirements for energy-using and energy-related products sold in all 27 member states. Its scope currently covers more than 40 product groups (such as boilers, lightbulbs, TVs and fridges), which are responsible for around 40% of all EU greenhouse gas emissions^{[citation needed]}.

The 2009 revision of the Directive extended its scope to energy-related products such as windows, insulation materials and certain water-using products.

The ultimate aim of the Ecodesign Directive is that manufacturers of energy-using products (EuP) will, at the design stage, be obliged to reduce the energy consumption and other negative environmental impacts of products. While the Directive's primary aim is to reduce energy use, it is also aimed at enforcing other environmental considerations including: materials use; water use; polluting emissions; waste issues and recyclability.

The Ecodesign Directive is a framework directive, meaning that it does not directly set minimum ecological requirements. These are adopted through specific implementing measures for each group of products in the scope of the Directive. The implementing measures are adopted through the so-called comitology procedure. Implementing measures are based on EU internal market rules governing which products may be placed on the market. Manufacturers who begin marketing an energy-using product covered by an implementing measure in the EU area have to ensure that it conforms to the energy and environmental standards set out by the measure.

In practice, the introduction of a new minimum requirement results in effectively banning all non-compliant products from being sold in the 28 Member States. This was for example the case of incandescent lamps, for which a gradual phaseout started in the EU in 2009 under this Directive.^[2] This measure alone – which received some criticism in parts of the media but welcomed by environmentalists^[3] – is expected to reduce annual CO₂ emissions by 16 million tons in 2020.