Labelling
The Labelling of the Products is complementary to the Ecodesign approach and enable the European consumers to get properly informed on the performance of the goods when buying it.
The Labelling is used to by the manufacturers to directly inform the consumers in a simple and visual way on the key characteristics and performances of the products.
Performance is a broad topic as it covers different parameters i.e. energy efficiency, sustainability, recyclability, reparability, safety and many more…
An effective Energy Labelling system enables consumers to make a better and more rational use of resources by informing them about the efficiency and sustainability of products.
However, even if the Labelling principle is used in different sectors, significant difference exists to fits with the specificities of the products (i.a. Energy Labelling for ErP, European Fuel Labelling, Food Labelling, …) and what is considered by the legislators as essential.
Labelling system is limited to some elements and used only to inform the public.
To cover all the aspect of the products, number of information must be shared between the different stakeholders during the life cycle of the products. The exchange of product information is therefore not limited to a simple manufacturer/consumer relation. And it that case, a Labelling system must be complemented with a Digital Product Passport (DPP) which is a tool used to share a lot of information on the products between several stakeholders. Manufacturers and consumers are, of course, involved but the product data must also be shared with other parties like i.a. the market surveillance authorities (MSA), the recyclers or between different manufacturers.
Traceability
The data trust is a fundamental pillar of the Ecodesign system.
The system can only work if all data reflect the reality of the market especially because performances are calculated with these data and it strongly influences all decisions are taken by the different stakeholders afterwards.
Therefore, to exchange a huge amount of products data and to ensure the confidence during the whole life cycle, it is essential to have a robust process to collect, create, read, update, share, delete and store the data in place.
The operational implementation of this complex process is supported by a tool, the Digital Product Passport (DPP).
Traceability is necessary to ensure the trust on the data.
