A front-runner approach for EU product policy : impulse for raising untapped energy saving potentials / by Jens Schuberth, Dr. Thomas Ebert (Umweltbundesamt, Dessau); Dr. Moritz-C. Schlegel (Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung, Berlin); Lisa Rödig, Dirk Jepsen (Ökopol – Institut für Ökologie & Politik GmbH, Hamburg) ; on behalf of the German Environment Agencypublisher: Umweltbundesamt ; responsible units: Section III 1.3 Ecodesign, Environmental Labelling, Environmentally Friendly Procurement; Section V 1.4 Energy Efficiency ; co-publisher: Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), Section S.4 Ecodesign and Energy Labelling

Abstract

This paper presents an initial outline of a policy approach called “EU front-runner approach”. It aims at installing a regulatory framework which enables a semi-automated, progressive adaptation of ecodesign minimum requirements for products. It builds on performance levels of the best products available on the market by aggregating information in a database. The application of the “EU front-runner approach” to EU Product Policy is being illustrated for energy-efficiency requirements. In this way it serves as a starting point to introduce our initial thoughts and ideas to the EU policy arena and to kick-start the discussion and joint efforts.