Sustainable product policy
Products such as dishwashers, refrigerators, windows and showers, have a considerable impact on the environment. Defra is reducing carbon emissions and energy consumption by encouraging manufacturers to design more energy efficient products. Businesses and consumers can save money on their energy bills by buying more energy efficient products.
What is Defra doing to improve the sustainability of products?
Minimum product performance standards and labelling
Defra is promoting innovation by encouraging the removal of the least sustainable products from the market. Labelling products with their energy efficiency rating means products are easier to compare. This allows consumers to make more informed choices about energy efficient products.
The Eco-design Framework Directive
The Eco-design Framework Directive sets minimum environmental performance standards for products across the EU. This is put into UK law by the Eco-Design for Energy Related Products Regulations (SI 2010 No 2617). Eco-design regulations aim to improve the environmental performance of products by reducing the impact of a product’s life-cycle on the environment. This is done through regulation or voluntary agreements.
Details of the eco-design workplan, including regulations and voluntary action already agreed and those currently in negotiation, can be found on the European Commission’s website.
The Energy Labelling Framework Directive
The Energy Labelling Framework Directive sets energy labelling requirements for products across the EU. It requires a standard label showing energy efficiency, and other sustainability aspects such as water consumption, are displayed on products where they are sold. Energy labels are shown on a number of products, details are on the European Commission website.
The National Measurement Office is responsible for the enforcement of these regulations. Further details are available on the National Measurement Office website.
Defra is also working to increase compliance with the regulations on an EU wide level and sharing best practice on an international level.
Voluntary action
Voluntary action is an important tool for both business and government. This is in order to achieve our objectives in the most cost effective way and decrease the cost of regulations for business. The Eco-design Framework Directive encourages the development of voluntary measures, where agreements between manufacturers are likely to deliver the policy objectives faster or cheaper than regulation. For products not currently covered by the commission’s workplan or where there are opportunities to increase efficiency further in the UK, Defra and the Energy Saving Trust are working together to encourage voluntary action.
- Details of the current voluntary initiatives can be found on the Energy Saving Trust website.
International Collaboration
Defra is also involved in a number of EU and international projects, with the aim to move towards harmonisation of test and performance standards. This should aid the uptake of more sustainable products in the UK and globally.
International Energy Agency – Implementing Agreement on Efficient Electrical End-Use Equipment
Is a collaborative programme across a number of countries to promote wider use of more energy-efficient electrical equipment. The UK is involved in all four work streams under this programme.
Super-efficient Equipment and Appliance Deployment (SEAD)
This initiative seeks to transform the global market by speeding up the introduction of high efficiency appliances. The UK participates in four work streams under this programme.
Energy Star
The Energy Star is a voluntary scheme to promote energy efficient office equipment such as personal computers, monitors, fax machines, scanners, photocopiers and printers. Participation in the scheme is often displayed by an energy star label. The UK is signed up to this voluntary scheme to co-ordinate energy efficiency labels for office equipment across the world.
EU Codes of Conduct for ICT
The EU Codes of Conduct for ICT is a group of voluntary agreements led by the European Commission. Defra is working to develop the EU Codes of Conduct as valuable initiatives to reduce carbon emissions from ICT. They focus on energy efficiency performance standards along with in-use best practice.
Evidence
Evidence is vitally important to the development of our policy. Our market transformation programme maintains a significant evidence base on market data for products that use energy in the UK. This includes energy consumption from these products between now and 2030, as well as scenarios for reduced consumption. A report on the analysis, aims and indicative standards for energy efficient products 2009-2030 is contained in Saving Energy Through Better Products and Appliances.
By using and developing this evidence, Defra is able to target its policy to products that are likely to produce the most significant benefits both for the environment and for consumers.
Other related evidence base reports can be found on the Defra Research and Development database.
Contact Information
Any questions on specific policy should be directed to: Efficient.products@defra.gsi.gov.uk