The new Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), which came into force in 2024, sets out how companies, especially manufacturers, must produce products in accordance with ecodesign guidelines. What does this mean for industry and for design in particular? What are the implications for Switzerland?

 

As part of the CAS Development and Environment at the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland FHNW, we analysed the regulation and wrote a paper about it. The result is a taxonomy that visualises the complexity (and ambiguity) of the regulation, as well as a quick guide that provides an overview and recommendations on the regulation.  

 

If certain materials and manufacturing processes are more sustainable than others, if they produce less CO2 and have less impact on the environment, will there be benefits? A trend? Will it change design or the creative approach to ideas and concepts?

 

I'm interested in these questions and because I find them so exciting, they motivate me to continue my research in this direction.