Promoting product longevity

Type
Author
J. Scott MARCUS, Bruegel
Georg ZACHMANN, Bruegel
Stephen GARDNER, Bruegel
Simone TAGLIAPIETRA, Bruegel
Elissavet LYKOGIANNI, VVA
Publication Date
March, 2020
Country
EU
Language for original content
Scope
Policy Department for Economic, Scientific and Quality of Life Policies

How can the EU product safety and compliance framework help promote product durability and tackle planned obsolescence, foster the production of more sustainable products, and achieve more transparent supply chains for consumers?

Product longevity can play a useful role in achieving the Paris Agreement goals – material efficiency is an important contributor to energy efficiency and is also important in its own right. The product safety and compliance instruments available at European level can contribute to these efforts, if wisely applied.

This study was commissioned by the European Parliament Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO).