Addressing resource efficiency through the Ecodesign Directive: a review of opportunities and barriers

Summary, in English

The European Union has initiated a number of initiatives to improve

resource efficiency in Europe. The Ecodesign Directive is one of the

policy instruments that could aid the transition towards a more

resource efficient economy. So far, the Directive has mainly been

applied to set requirements related to energy efficiency, but there is

potential for setting legal standards that increase product durability

and promote the future re-use and recycling of components

and materials. This paper examines the potential benefits and

disadvantages in applying the Directive for this purpose, and

analyzes the potential to apply certain types of legal standards.

There is a need for continuous development of indicators and

methods in order to allow for a broader range of legal standards

in the future. The study provides some short and long term

recommendations on the way forward.

• Author: Carl Dalhammar; Erika Machacek; Anja Bundgaard; Kristina Overgaard Zacho; Arne Remmen
• Department/s: The International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics
• Publishing year: 2014
• Language: English
• Publication/Series: TemaNord
• Links: http://norden.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:710881/FULLTEXT01.pdf
• Document type: Report
• Publisher: Nordic Council of Ministers
• Topic: Social Sciences Interdisciplinary
• Keywords: Ecodesign; Ecodesign directive; resource efficiency; resource policy; design for recycling
• Status: Published
• Report number: 2014:511
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISBN: 978-92-893-2720-6