Commission proposes new legislation to promote eco-friendly products
The Commission has adopted draft legislation aimed at promoting an environmentally friendly approach to the design of energy consuming products, which it says will significantly contribute to sustainable development. The so-called 'eco-design' method improves the green credentials of products throughout their lifetimes by taking environmental considerations into account at the design stage. Key aspects of this approach include energy consumption, waste generation, water consumption, and use of natural resources. Commissioner for Enterprise and the Information Society, Erkki Liikanen, said: 'This directive will offer a framework in order to ensure that energy using products perform better when it comes to environmental impact, without detriment to their functionality or free movement in the EU market. It is a major contribution to sustainable development.' At this stage, the Commission does not envisage that all energy consuming products will be obliged to apply eco-design criteria, rather, those products that show sufficient scope for environmental improvement. The advantage of implementing such measures at EU level, the Commission argues, is that it will avoid the adoption of uncoordinated policies by national authorities that could ultimately damage the environment and hinder the free movement of goods. For example, while it might be desirable to remove mercury from lights, this could lead to increased energy consumption and have a negative effect overall on the environment. It is hoped that manufacturers and other stakeholders will be actively engaged in the decision making process, as the Commission is keen to create a framework that will not stifle the innovativeness and initiative of product designers. Above all, the Commission is keen to highlight the potential benefits of the proposed measures, saying that consumers and businesses will enjoy better products and an improved environment, and that economic competitiveness will be enhanced through a more rational use of resources and better access to an enlarged single market.