What is the difference between the Ecodesign Directive and ESPR?

The Ecodesign Directive (2009/125/EC) was a directive covering only energy-related products and had to be transposed into national law. The ESPR (Regulation (EU) 2024/1781) is a directly applicable regulation that replaces it, covers almost all physical goods, and adds the Digital Product Passport.

Is the Ecodesign Directive still in force?

No. The Ecodesign Directive 2009/125/EC was repealed and replaced by the ESPR, which has been in force since 18 July 2024. Some of the directive’s product-specific implementing measures continue under the new framework during transition.

Why do people still say "ecodesign directive"?

Out of habit. The directive was the law for many years, so the name persists, but the legally binding instrument since 18 July 2024 is the Ecodesign Regulation (ESPR).

What did ESPR add compared with the old directive?

ESPR expands scope from energy-related products to almost all physical goods, introduces the Digital Product Passport, adds a ban on destroying certain unsold consumer products, and can regulate more aspects such as durability, recycled content and substances of concern.

ESPR & DPP guide

Ecodesign Directive vs the Ecodesign Regulation (ESPR)

Last updated · 2026-06-08

The Ecodesign Directive (2009/125/EC) was the EU’s original ecodesign law, covering only energy-related products such as appliances, lighting and motors. The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), Regulation (EU) 2024/1781, repeals and replaces it, expanding scope to almost all physical goods and adding the Digital Product Passport.

TL;DR

The Ecodesign Directive (2009/125/EC) covered only energy-related products and had to be transposed into national law.
ESPR (Regulation (EU) 2024/1781) repeals and replaces it, in force since 18 July 2024.
As a regulation, ESPR is directly applicable across all member states with no transposition.
ESPR dramatically expands scope to almost all physical goods and adds the Digital Product Passport.

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A short history

The Ecodesign Directive 2009/125/EC set minimum energy-efficiency and other requirements, but only for energy-related products such as appliances, lighting and motors. As a directive, it had to be transposed into each member state’s national law.

The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), Regulation (EU) 2024/1781, was adopted on 13 June 2024 and entered into force on 18 July 2024. It repeals and replaces the old directive and turns a narrow, energy-only instrument into a broad framework covering almost all physical goods.

Why "directive" still gets used

Many people still say "ecodesign directive" out of habit, but since 18 July 2024 the legally binding instrument is the Ecodesign Regulation (ESPR). The old directive no longer applies, though some of its product-specific implementing measures continue under the new framework during transition.

Side-by-side comparison

Aspect	Ecodesign Directive (2009/125/EC)	ESPR (Regulation (EU) 2024/1781)
Legal instrument	Directive (transposed into national law)	Regulation (directly applicable)
Scope	Energy-related products only	Almost all physical goods, incl. components
Status	Repealed	In force since 18 July 2024
Digital Product Passport	No	Yes
Destruction of unsold goods	Not addressed	Banned for certain products (phased)
How rules are set	Implementing measures per product	Delegated acts per product group

What stays the same

Both instruments work through product-specific rules rather than one-size-fits-all numbers, and both build on the idea of setting minimum requirements at the design stage. ESPR keeps that structure but widens the aspects it can regulate and adds the DPP and the unsold-goods ban.

FAQ

Common questions

What is the difference between the Ecodesign Directive and ESPR?: The Ecodesign Directive (2009/125/EC) was a directive covering only energy-related products and had to be transposed into national law. The ESPR (Regulation (EU) 2024/1781) is a directly applicable regulation that replaces it, covers almost all physical goods, and adds the Digital Product Passport.
Is the Ecodesign Directive still in force?: No. The Ecodesign Directive 2009/125/EC was repealed and replaced by the ESPR, which has been in force since 18 July 2024. Some of the directive’s product-specific implementing measures continue under the new framework during transition.
Why do people still say "ecodesign directive"?: Out of habit. The directive was the law for many years, so the name persists, but the legally binding instrument since 18 July 2024 is the Ecodesign Regulation (ESPR).
What did ESPR add compared with the old directive?: ESPR expands scope from energy-related products to almost all physical goods, introduces the Digital Product Passport, adds a ban on destroying certain unsold consumer products, and can regulate more aspects such as durability, recycled content and substances of concern.

Put it into practice

Work through the DPP Readiness Checklist, then explore the product groups and tools built for your situation.

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This is guidance, not legal advice

This guide explains the concepts behind ESPR and the Digital Product Passport in plain English. It is not legal advice, and most ESPR product rules arrive via delegated acts that are not yet adopted, so confirm with the official sources we link or a qualified adviser before acting.

Sources

[1]Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 (ESPR), full text (EUR-Lex)retrieved 8 Jun 2026
[2]EUR-Lex: official summary of the ESPRretrieved 8 Jun 2026
[3]European Commission: 2025-2030 ESPR Working Planretrieved 8 Jun 2026
[4]European Commission: Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) methodretrieved 8 Jun 2026
[5]JRC: Digital Product Passport data-requirements methodology (JRC145830)retrieved 8 Jun 2026

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