Energy Using Products Directive 2005/32/EC

The Energy Using Products Directive 2005/32/EC is a preventive initiative to improve the environmental performance of products throughout their life-cycle by systematic integration of environmental aspects at the earliest stages of their design. The ultimate aim is to make products more energy efficient, to more effectively use our energy resources and to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases in particular - as part of the European Climate Change Programme (ECCP). It is also expected to make European products more appealing in an increasing eco-friendly world market.

As specified by Article 2 Paragraph 1 of the Directive an 'Energy Using Product' (EuP) is "a product which once placed on the market and/or put into service is dependent on energy input (electricity, fossil fuels and renewable energy sources) to work as intended, or a product for the generation, transfer and measurement of such energy, including parts dependent on energy input and intended to be incorporated into an EuP covered by this Directive" - so it covers complete products and parts like capacitors and transformers.

The rules for the 'eco-design' of EuPs will be consistent across Europe, but take into consideration national variations so as not to impede trade within the region. They will define criteria for environmentally relevant product characteristics such as water consumption, energy consumption and waste production as well as the extension of product life. Not all EuPs will have quantified environmental obligations against them under the legislation. Those that do will be selected based on volume of sales in the EU and their environmental impact at European level. One example of a product type that is likely to be impacted by the EuP Directive is washing machines. These use water, energy and detergents and improving the eco-design of such products could significantly help preserve energy resources and reduce pollution. Eventually the eco-design requirements for these types of products will be legally binding for those on sale in the EU regardless of where they are designed or built.

The Directive has not yet been transposed into national law in Europe, but with projects like the Eco-label Scheme already in place awareness of environmental issues within the manufacturing community is building. Paragraph 15 in the Directive states ". eco-design requirements should be established on the basis of technical, economic and environmental analysis". As of Autumn 2006 that analysis is ongoing and eco-design requirements are still being determined. In July 2007, the European Commission will establish a working plan to implement the Directive across the region, but given this preparatory time manufacturers could benefit from leading the change by beginning to consider eco-design for themselves. This will help them contribute to the consultative process of implementing the Directive and give them a head start in complying with the legislation.