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Review and Analysis of Ecodesign Directive Implementing Measures: Product Regulations Shifting from Energy Efficiency towards a Circular Economy

Author

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  • Robin Barkhausen

    (Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI, 76139 Karlsruhe, Germany)

  • Antoine Durand

    (Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI, 76139 Karlsruhe, Germany)

  • Katharina Fick

    (Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI, 76139 Karlsruhe, Germany)

Abstract

The EU Ecodesign Directive was introduced as a framework to improve the environmental impact of energy-using and later energy-related products. From the beginning, the directive offered the possibility to consider not only the energy consumption of a product during its use phase, but a wider range of environmental aspects throughout the life cycle of a product, including circular economy aspects. We developed a circular economy taxonomy and analysed the coverage of functional and informational circular economy requirements in the 27 product groups regulated by ecodesign implementing measures from 2008 until 2021 by performing a content and keyword analysis of the legislative texts of 30 implementing measures and 16 amendments or repeals. We found circular economy requirements in 75% of currently regulated product groups and an increase in circular economy requirements over time and in particular in the legislations published in 2019. We found lighting products to be outliers, with many circular economy requirements early on and a focus on durability. For white goods, the focus was found to be on repairability requirements.

Suggested Citation

  • Robin Barkhausen & Antoine Durand & Katharina Fick, 2022. "Review and Analysis of Ecodesign Directive Implementing Measures: Product Regulations Shifting from Energy Efficiency towards a Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-26, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:16:p:10318-:d:892335
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kirchherr, Julian & Reike, Denise & Hekkert, Marko, 2017. "Conceptualizing the circular economy: An analysis of 114 definitions," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 221-232.
    2. Kirchherr, Julian & Piscicelli, Laura & Bour, Ruben & Kostense-Smit, Erica & Muller, Jennifer & Huibrechtse-Truijens, Anne & Hekkert, Marko, 2018. "Barriers to the Circular Economy: Evidence From the European Union (EU)," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 264-272.
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    Cited by:

    1. Athanasios C. (Thanos) Bourtsalas & Petros E. Papadatos & Kyriaki Kiskira & Konstantinos Kalkanis & Constantinos S. Psomopoulos, 2023. "Ecodesign for Industrial Furnaces and Ovens: A Review of the Current Environmental Legislation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-13, June.

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