Method for the assessment of circularity aspects and integration in or relation with the Methodology for the Ecodesign of Energy-related Products (MEErP)

The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), which aims to improve the environmental sustainability and circularity of products in the European market, entered into force in 2024. This report contributes to streamlining several intermediate processes that are needed to define ecodesign requirements that will be set in product-specific Delegated Acts. The revised MEErP – which serves as the basis for the development of Preparatory Studies – is expected to be complemented with the methods presented in this report, which aim to better integrate circularity aspects in the methodology. The role of the EU’s Open Strategic Autonomy (OSA) has also been considered in the development of such methods. The report includes the following methods: i) how to assess the relevance of circularity aspects, ii) how to assess the relevance of the EU OSA, and iii) how to define ecodesign requirements based on circularity aspects, considering potential synergies and trade-offs. In spite of the efforts made in the revision of the MEErP, some methods to assess specific performance requirements in the context of the ESPR still appear to be lacking. Therefore, more efforts should be dedicated to the development of standards or standardised product rules to allow comparability. The aim of this work, and that of other tasks, is to provide guidance to the study team in the development of Preparatory Studies within the context of the ESPR, specifically on the aspects where this was lacking.