A new website has been set up for the project to establish the next Ecodesign Working Plan for 2015-2017.

The Ecodesign Directive 2009/125/EC is a framework Directive that sets ecodesign requirements for energy-related products which are then implemented via product-specific Regulations. There have been three phases of implementation – the transitional period and two Working Plans which both included studies to identify priority products.

The current project will develop another list of product groups and assess which to prioritise. There are three key factors taken into consideration when deciding which product groups are more urgent – the number of units sold (more than 200,000 per year); how big an environmental impact they have; and the potential for significantly improving that impact without excessive costs.

While the 2009 framework Directive considers various environmental impacts, the Regulations to date have concentrated on reducing energy consumption, including setting time limits for phasing out less energy efficient products. However, now that the products being assessed are energy-related, rather than just energy-using (as the Directive was originally framed) there are suggestions for the inclusion of other environmental aspects. We have already seen the vacuum cleaner Regulation include motor durability requirements, though these will be subject to further assessment before the implementation date.