The regulation stems from the European Green Deal (2019) and the Circular Economy Action Plan (2020). The EU aims to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. Current production and consumption are still highly linear, causing excessive resource use, waste, and emissions. 

For Türkiye — one of the EU’s largest suppliers in textiles, furniture, and intermediate goods — this matters enormously: products that fail to meet the new rules risk being blocked at EU borders, while those that adapt will strengthen their foothold in a market of 450 million consumers. In other words, ESPR is not just environmental law — it is a business passport. Turkish companies that invest in durability, recyclability, and Digital Product Passports will not only keep access to Europe but will lead it, winning contracts, credibility, and resilience in the new circular economy.

Timeline

ESPR is already legally binding since July 2024.

The real impact dates depend on your sector: as soon as your product group’s delegated act is adopted, compliance becomes mandatory.

For Turkish exporters (esp. textiles & apparel), the first binding requirements are expected from 2027 onward

A. OBJECTIVES

• Make sustainable products the norm in the EU market.
• Reduce carbon and environmental footprints.
• Support circular economy principles such as durability, repairability, reusability, recyclability, and reduced waste.
• Ensure free movement of sustainable products within the internal market.

B. PRODUCTS COVERED

ESPR and its 2025–2030 Working Plan use 4 categories:

1. Final Products:

Definition: what consumers buy and use.

Examples from the plan:

• Textiles & Apparel (e.g., clothes, garments).
• Furniture (including mattresses as a separate subcategory).
• Tyres (used in vehicles, with focus on recyclability).

Why included: These have large markets and high environmental impacts (waste, carbon, water, energy). Improving durability, repairability, and recyclability here gives direct consumer and environmental benefits.

2. Intermediate Products:

Definition: materials/components feeding into many sectors.

Examples:

• Iron & Steel (used in construction, vehicles, machinery).
• Aluminium (used in packaging, electronics, cars, buildings).

Why included: They have a major role in the supply chain and reducing their environmental footprint (through recycled content, efficiency, cleaner production) has a multiplier effect across many industries.

3. Horizontal Requirements

Definition: cross-cutting rules for sustainability.

Examples:

• Repairability (including scoring systems) – will apply broadly, likely to electronics and appliances.
• Recycled content & recyclability for electrical/electronic equipment.

Why included: These ensure consistency and scalability of sustainability practices across many sectors, and avoid product-by-product duplication

4. Energy-Related Products:

Definition: devices or systems that consume/control energy.

Examples:

• Household appliances: dishwashers, washing machines, tumble dryers, fridges.
• ICT devices: mobile phones, tablets, displays.
• Energy infrastructure: EV chargers, electric motors, welding equipment, low-temperature emitters.
• Other: standby and off-mode power consumption.

Why included: These are major drivers of EU energy consumption and emissions; ecodesign rules here cut CO₂, save households money, and align with energy labelling (A–G scales)

C. REQUIREMENTS

1. Design Products That Last:

The EU now demands durability, reliability, repairability, upgradability, reusability, and recyclability.

👉 In plain terms: products that break quickly, can’t be repaired, or can’t be recycled will soon be pushed out of the market.

If you don’t design for longevity, your competitors will.

2. Eliminate Barriers to Recycling: 

Hazardous substances that block recycling or reuse are in the spotlight.
👉 If your product contains problematic chemicals or composites, you’ll face regulatory and market rejection.

Circularity isn’t optional anymore — it’s your license to operate.

3. Digital Product Passport (DPP): Total Transparency:

Every regulated product will carry a mandatory Digital Product Passport, accessible via QR code. It will disclose:

• Environmental footprint.
• Repairability score.
• Recycled content and substances of concern.

👉 This is radical transparency: buyers, regulators, and even competitors will see how sustainable your product really is.

If you don’t own your data story, someone else will define it for you.

4. Stop Destroying Unsold Goods:

The EU is outlawing the destruction of unsold consumer products (starting with textiles and footwear). Companies must report what they discard and why.

Wasting unsold stock isn’t just bad PR anymore — it will soon be illegal.

5. One Market, One Standard:

Compliant products gain unhindered access to the EU single market of 450+ million consumers.

👉 Non-compliance? Expect customs blocks, fines, and exclusion from procurement.

Compliance is your ticket to Europe’s largest consumer market.

D. WHY IT MATTERS – AND WHAT TO DO:

Challenge: Turkish exporters, especially in textiles, must rapidly upgrade processes to meet ESPR. SMEs are especially vulnerable due to cost pressures and fragmented support.

Opportunity: Those who adapt early—designing for circularity, deploying DPPs, and optimizing supply chains—will not just survive—they’ll thrive.

E. NEXT STEPS FOR TURKISH BUSINESS

For Turkish companies, ESPR is not just compliance — it’s the roadmap to EU market leadership. With the right guidance, complexity turns into opportunity.

• Map Compliance Gaps: Identify how your products stack up against ESPR requirements.
• Get Ahead on DPPs: Build data infrastructure for Digital Product Passports and traceability.
• Rethink Unsold Inventory: Implement alternatives to destruction—donation, resale, recycling.
• Seek Strategic Support: Collaborate for capacity building and gap analysis.