EU product requirements and standards are increasingly used to integrate sustainability and environmental policy objectives. Those standards may also impact global value chains as products placed on the EU market must comply.  For example, the Commission’s Batteries Regulation  , adopted in July 2023, has the specific objectives of reducing environmental, climate and social impacts throughout all stages of the battery life cycle.  

The proposal for a new Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, published on 30 March 2022, is described as “the cornerstone of the Commission’s approach to more environmentally sustainable and circular products.” It builds on the existing Ecodesign Directive which currently only addresses energy-related products. Political Agreement was reached in December 2023.

The EU also has a Circular Economy Action plan. In line with the policy objectives described, a number of new measures have been proposed, including rules on green claims, a right to repair, rules on packaging and waste.