Ecodesign Directive

First, the Ecodesign Directive is a possibility to implement more precautionary approach against risks posed by hazardous chemicals. 

The Ecodesign Directive is the regulation that sets standards for products (products, goods) at EU level. Thus, for the RISKCYCLE issue, principle regulations could be established for the pre-consumer phase, so that only those chemical additives may be used that do not cause problems in a sustainable closed substance cycle. 

Originally only energy consuming products were considered as part of the EU Ecodesign Directive. The scope of the Directive was extended in 2009 to the range of products that are related to energy consumption (such as windows, insulation). 

How can the Ecodesign Directive be further developed to handle the RISKCYCLE-topic So far, pollution issues are involved in the context of product evaluation and the derivation of product standards, but rather in the sense of LCA to capture the energy side and the other relevant environmental indicators. The topic of mercury in compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) has made it clear that pollution issues can be quite important in the context of this Directive. However, relevant limits for energy saving lamps were first set by a waste-related regulation, namely the Annex of the WEEE Directive [7]. 

Currently (2012) there is an internal discussion within the Commission on the evaluation of the Ecodesign Directive. One of the positions taken is to expand the scope of the directive a second time to broaden its field of application. There are some voices proposing to include the pollution issue in the context of setting product standards. Decisions are expected in late 2012. 

The Ecodesign Directive can include selected pollutants in life cycle assessment considerations (connected with the topic resource efficiency). This does, however, not cover the topic RISKCYCLE. 

At present it is unclear whether the scope of the Ecodesign Directive will be extended a second time and whether the problem of pollutants in products will be included. Since the focus of the policy will remain clearly on the energy aspect, it is not expected that, even with expansion of the scope, the Ecodesign Directive can make a relevant contribution to solving the problem highlighted in RISKCYCLE. 

Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament Establishment of the working plan for 2009-2011 under the Ecodesign Directive. Brussels, 21.10.2008, COM (2008) 660 final http //eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do uri=COM 2008 0660 FIN EN PDF. 21 Oct 2008... 

What will be the outcome of the RISKCYCLE project and how is the influence on research policy and legislation Different ways for implementation are conceivable the Ecodesign Directive and European Waste Legislation (RoHS, WEEE and REACH). 

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