The role of standards in support of material efficiency requirements under the Ecodesign Directive

Abstract

Material efficiency is a new field within the Ecodesign Directive. To support its implementation, standardisation mandate M/543 was issued with the aim of developing generic material efficiency standards for ecodesign. This article investigates how the standards developed under M/543 can support the implementation of material efficiency under the Ecodesign Directive and the potential challenges of this process. As a result of M/543, nine standards were published; two of these can be applied directly, while seven are horizontal and provide the framework for developing product-specific standards. The study showed that M/543 and its associated standards have already played a key role in supporting material efficiency by creating a shared understanding and definition of various aspects of material efficiency. The standards provide a baseline from which relevant aspect(s) of material efficiency can be selected, and thus ensure a level playing field and alignment in the understanding of material efficiency across product groups. However, the actual use of the standards shows significant variance in how they are applied, potentially hindering continuity in the development of standardisation. Therefore, clear guidelines on the use of the standards should be established.