The European home appliance industry is once again taking part in the debate on the new Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), stressing the need to combine sustainability goals with safety criteria, industrial feasibility, and regulatory coherence.
According to APPLiA, the association representing home appliance manufacturers in Europe, the success of the regulatory framework will depend on its ability to promote the circular economy without introducing requirements that are difficult to implement or potentially counterproductive for consumers and industry operators.
Among the key issues highlighted by the association is product repairability. APPLiA recognizes that the ability to repair appliances is a key element in the transition toward more sustainable models, but stresses that this must take place under full safety conditions. In this regard, some spare parts could be made directly available to consumers, while more complex or safety-sensitive components should remain reserved for qualified technicians.
Another aspect concerns the use of recycled materials in the production of household appliances. For APPLiA, any minimum thresholds for recycled content should be defined on a case-by-case basis, taking into account factors such as raw material availability, quality, durability, safety, and the performance of the final product.
An effective regulatory framework is needed
The association also draws attention to the risk of regulatory overlap. According to the sector, the ESPR should avoid introducing additional requirements on components, spare parts, or product characteristics that are already governed by other EU regulations. Such duplication of requirements could in fact increase bureaucratic complexity and, paradoxically, make repair activities more difficult.
For APPLiA, an effective regulatory framework should therefore support the spread of increasingly sustainable home appliances while ensuring clear, consistent, and applicable rules across the entire European supply chain.
The home appliance and consumer electronics industry and production chain will meet again at the next edition of Applitech, the only trade fair of its kind in Europe, which will take place from 10 to 12 November 2027 at BolognaFiere, featuring a rich conference program.