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The ESPR Timeline: What Manufacturers Need to Prepare For

The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation entered into force on 18 July 2024. It creates the framework for product-specific sustainability rules and Digital Product Passports across almost all physical goods placed on the EU market.

The dates. And what they mean.

The dates. And what they mean.

Select a milestone to see what changes, who it affects, and where to read the official guidance.

18 July 2024Confirmed legal date

ESPR enters into force

The framework creates the basis for product-specific ecodesign and passport requirements. It does not impose a passport deadline on every product at once.

Read the official source

ESPR adoption years are indicative, not compliance deadlines. Each product-specific act sets its own application date. Sources checked 22 October 2026.

18 July 2024: the framework took effect

Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 replaced the previous Ecodesign Directive and widened the possible scope from energy-related products to almost all physical goods placed on the EU market. Food, feed, medicinal products, living plants and animals, and certain vehicles are among the exclusions.

There is no single ESPR compliance deadline

ESPR is a framework regulation. Detailed performance, information, conformity, and Digital Product Passport requirements are introduced through delegated acts for specific product groups. Each act sets its own application date, so the relevant deadline depends on what you sell.

The preparation work starts with product data

Before a product-specific deadline arrives, manufacturers can identify affected product groups, audit source data, collect material and sustainability evidence, and decide how passports will be issued and maintained. Utomo Compliance adds that passport workflow on top of your current product system, without making a PIM replacement the first step.

A few things you might be wondering.

Is the ESPR the same as the Digital Product Passport?

Not exactly. The ESPR is the overarching regulation; the Digital Product Passport is one of the tools it introduces to make product information available across the value chain.

When does the ESPR apply to my products?

It depends on the product group. Requirements are introduced through delegated acts with their own application dates. The Working Plan’s adoption years are planning signals, not compliance deadlines, so check the final rule for your category.

How should we start preparing?

Start by mapping affected products, owners, source systems, identifiers, materials, packaging, sustainability attributes, and supporting documents. Utomo Compliance can run on top of your current product system while you close the gaps.

Keep exploring.

All resources

Digital Product Passports

A Digital Product Passport is a structured, shareable record of a product’s identity, materials, and environmental data. Here is what it is, why the EU is introducing it, and how to get your product information ready.

Read the guide

Your readiness checklist

Use this checklist to find the gaps between your current product data and what a Digital Product Passport needs — then close them in one workspace.

Read the guide

Passports on your existing system

Keep your existing product system. Use Utomo as a passport layer alongside Akeneo, inRiver, Pimcore, or the product data you already maintain.

Read the guide

Product information management

Learn how product information management software centralizes product data, assets, variants, and translations for reliable multichannel publishing.

Read the guide

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