10 reasons why this Package matters

1. Together, the 16 measures will result in 140 TWh of energy saved per year from 2030 onwards. This is equivalent to 5% of EU electricity consumption.

2. The European Institutions are looking at making products easier to repair, which is essential knowing that 77% of EU consumers would rather repair their goods than buy new ones.

3. Recycling should also be facilitated thanks to better design and information on substances in the products.

4. It will lead to clearer labels (at least we hope so!), going back little by little to a unique A-G scale.

5. Two new products coming from the ICT sector will be regulated, i.e. servers and displays. This is excellent news given the explosion of digital products.

6. Fridges in shops will finally have to become much more efficient. Did you know that adding door on commercial fridges can save 40% of energy a year?

7. Invisible but extremely powerful, the 2009 rules that have pushed the motors market upwards will continue stirring innovation and cover more types of motors.

8. The power adapters we need for many products such as our phones, laptops, will become more efficient.

9. Simplifying and revising the rules that apply to all lighting products will save as much as the household electricity consumption in Italy. Wasteful halogen tubes will progressively be replaced by more efficient LED tubes.

10. Advertising will now have to make reference to the energy efficiency class of the product.

What’s at stake?

The proposed requirements are part of a package of Ecodesign and Energy Labelling measures, which would oblige manufacturers to produce electrical goods that do the same job while wasting less energy. The proposals would also help reduce waste and save resources thanks to provisions to make products more easily repairable and recyclable by design.

The proposed energy efficiency requirements alone, which if approved in their entirety would cover 10 products, can save 56 m tonnes in CO2 emissions a year. Apart from the obvious climate benefits, this would also make Europe less dependent on energy imports given current geopolitical uncertainties and potential for volatility in fossil markets.

The proposed resource efficiency requirements would make it easier for consumers to have certain products repaired instead of having to buy new ones. The measures would reduce waste while unleashing the potential of job creation in the sector. That’s not a given, considering that now consumers are forced to discard products, as repair is either impossible or unaffordable.