Material Efficiency - Focus on the Design
In the past, standardization efforts in energy efficiency primarily focused on the performance of products during their use phase. However, based on the EU Circular economy action plan, the European Commission requested CEN and CENELEC to develop standards on material efficiency. These standards set the foundation for existing and future Ecodesign requirements related to product durability, reparability, and recyclability, thereby shifting focus to the design phase.
As part of this initiative, the CEN-CENELEC Joint Technical Committee 10 (CEN-CLC/JTC 10) ‘Material efficiency aspects for products in scope of Ecodesign legislation’ developed a suite of eight standards. These standards outline key principles for enhancing the material efficiency of energy-related products, including:
- Extending product lifespan
- Facilitating reuse of components
- Enabling recycling of materials at end-of-life
- Encouraging the use of reused components and recycled materials
These horizontal standards provide a framework for product-specific Technical Committees to incorporate material efficiency considerations into their respective standards, ensuring a comprehensive approach to sustainability in Ecodesign.
