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Summaries of EU Legislation

Ecodesign for energy-related products

SUMMARY OF:

Directive 2009/125/EC establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-related products

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DIRECTIVE?

  • Directive 2009/125/EC sets out a framework for the European Commission to lay down harmonised ecodesign1 minimum requirements for energy-related products that are sold in the European Union (EU). It does not apply to means of transport used to carry people or goods.
  • It seeks to improve the energy efficiency2 of products and the protection of the environment, thus contributing to sustainable development, and doing so in a harmonised way to support the EU single market and avoid market fragmentation and higher prices that could result from diverging national rules on the same aspects.

KEY POINTS

  • Ecodesign requirements may cover all stages of a product’s life cycle and the repair and recycling at end of life. The focus so far has been, in most cases, on in-use energy consumption because action in that area was prioritised. The most recent regulations, however, have a more holistic perspective, considering the entirety of the energy used during the product’s lifetime. For electronic products in particular, the manufacturing phase accounts for anywhere from one third to even two thirds of the energy used during the product’s lifetime, suggesting requirements to maximise the use of this embodied energy with requirements on reliability and reparability, to extend the product lifetime, and recyclability, to more efficiently recover materials.
  • Products that satisfy the requirements bear the CE marking and may be sold anywhere in the EU.

Implementing acts

By means of implementing acts adopted under the directive, the Commission has established ecodesign requirements for the placing on the market of the following goods:

Regulation (EU) 2023/826, which repeals Regulations (EC) Nos 1275/2008 and 107/2009, lays down ecodesign requirements for off mode, standby mode and networked standby energy consumption of electrical and electronic household and office equipment, and will apply from .

Repeal

Directive 2009/125/EC was repealed by Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 (see summary) as of . However, some rules of the directive will remain in force to allow for the adoption of measures that were being developed under it (until 2026) or to amend those already in force (until 2030). Furthermore, implementing acts adopted under the directive will remain in force until they are repealed.

FROM WHEN DO THE RULES APPLY?

The directive had to be transposed into national law by . The regulations setting ecodesign requirements for specific product groups are binding in all Member States and create obligations from the application date(s) set in the individual regulations.

BACKGROUND

For further information, see:

KEY TERMS

  1. Ecodesign. The integration of environmental aspects into product design with the aim of improving the environmental performance of the product throughout its whole life cycle.
  2. Energy efficiency. Using less energy to provide the same service. Examples in terms of products are energy-efficient fridges and washing machines.

MAIN DOCUMENT

Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-related products (recast) (OJ L 285, , pp. 10–35).

Successive amendments to Directive 2009/125/EC have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

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