Improving ecodesign of products and development of testing methods for products prioritised under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation

This EU grant opportunity is centered on improving the ecodesign of products and developing testing methods for items prioritized under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, falling under the Horizon Europe Programme, specifically Cluster 6. This single-stage call aims to support the European Green Deal, promoting a circular economy action plan and the Right to Repair initiative. Proposals are expected to contribute towards reducing resource consumption and minimizing environmental impact while fostering innovative models for sustainable product design. Eligible applicant types include universities, research institutes, small and medium-sized enterprises, large enterprises, and other organizations involved in research and innovation activities, particularly within EU Member States and associated countries. A consortium comprising participants from at least three EU Member States or Associated Countries is required for the proposals. The call seeks projects that focus on circular economy principles and may apply to various sectors including sustainable manufacturing, textiles, and environmental technology. Projects are expected to explore product parameters affecting circularity such as durability, reusability, and resource use while developing testing methods to assess product performance against these criteria. Funding is provided as lump sum grants, and while specific funding amounts for the current call are not explicitly stated, comparable grants typically range between €1 million and €5 million. The application process is single-stage, with a deadline for submission on September 17, 2025. Projects must select from specified product groups such as detergents, paints, chemicals, textiles, footwear, or toys and should aim to enhance product sustainability, adhering to the provisions of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation. Outcomes are expected to provide insights for manufacturers, market authorities, and consumers related to product compliance and sustainable practices. Overall, this grant opportunity aims to advance the development and implementation of ecodesign principles, equipping stakeholders with necessary tools and knowledge, with a particular emphasis on building skills within small and medium-sized enterprises.

This EU grant opportunity focuses on improving the ecodesign of products and developing testing methods for products prioritized under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). It falls under the Horizon Europe Programme, specifically Cluster 6, and is a single-stage call. The call aims to support the European Green Deal, the circular economy action plan (CEAP), and the Right to Repair initiative. Successful proposals are expected to contribute to the Green Deal objectives of reduced resource consumption and environmental impact, fostering innovative business and governance models for safe and sustainable product design.

Project results should lead to several key outcomes:

Material and product manufacturers applying ecodesign principles and having methods to assess product performance and compliance with ESPR requirements.

Market surveillance authorities and notified bodies equipped with methods for verifying product compliance.

Consumers having access to reliable information on product ecodesign performance.

Consumers benefiting from more sustainable and circular products, including durable, reliable, reparable, reusable, upgradable, and recyclable products with increased recycled content.

The scope of the call involves generating knowledge and data to serve as a scientific basis for "preparatory studies" that will inform the development of targeted performance and information requirements (ecodesign requirements) for prioritized products under the ESPR.

Projects are expected to:

Assess how product parameters relevant for circularity can be determined and explore potential new parameters.

Assess product performance in relation to specific parameters and explore pathways for improvement.

Focus on product parameters impacting circularity, such as durability, reliability, reusability, upgradability, reparability, substances of concern, resource use, recycled content, and premature obsolescence, including social sustainability requirements.

Develop, test, and validate product-specific testing methods for determining and verifying product performance.

Provide analyses and recommendations for additional mechanisms and incentives to reward design for circularity and product durability.

Map material flows relevant to the product group and assess the impacts of potential requirements on these flows.

Develop quantitative and qualitative data on consumer behavior related to product parameters.

Proposals must consider all ESPR provisions and aim to improve overall product sustainability by enhancing product aspects outlined in Article 5 and Annex I of the ESPR. The revised MEErP methodology by JRC and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation: Study on new product priorities published in 2024 should be used as reference points. The series of standards on material efficiency for energy-related products EN455XX must be considered. Principles of Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) applied to chemicals and materials should be taken into account.

Proposals should also consider relevant technical information from Regulation (EC) No 66/2010 on the EU Ecolabel, Directive 2010/75/EU on Industrial emissions, technical screening criteria adopted pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2020/852 on sustainable investment, the “do no significant harm” principles, and green public procurement criteria.

The development of testing methods should include theoretical development, testing, and validation to evaluate suitability, repeatability, and reproducibility. Projects should demonstrate advances in digital/AI tools for assessing ecodesign requirements and verifying performance, involving Member States Authorities responsible for enforcement.

Projects should address the knowledge gap for SMEs by developing learning and training materials for dissemination within relevant companies and value chains.

Cooperation with the JRC is encouraged to foster coordination with ongoing science for policy activities related to the European Sustainable Product Regulation.

The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes. Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021.

The call includes several specific topics with varying budgets and indicative numbers of grants:

The opening date for submissions is May 6, 2025, and the deadline is September 17, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

In essence, this grant opportunity aims to drive the development and implementation of ecodesign principles for various product groups, ensuring that products on the EU market are more sustainable, circular, and contribute to the objectives of the European Green Deal. It seeks to equip manufacturers, authorities, and consumers with the tools and knowledge needed to achieve these goals, with a particular focus on SMEs and the development of relevant skills and capacities. The funding supports research and innovation actions, coordination and support actions, and cofund actions, each with specific objectives and budget allocations.

Summary:

This Horizon Europe Cluster 6 call (HORIZON-CL6-2025-01) focuses on "Improving ecodesign of products and development of testing methods for products prioritised under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation." It aims to support the European Green Deal by promoting a circular economy, reducing resource consumption, and minimizing environmental impact. The call invites proposals for Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), Innovation Actions (IA), and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) and Programme Cofund Actions (COFUND). Applicants must select one or more of the specified product groups (detergents, paints, chemicals, non-ferrous metals, home/interior textiles, footwear, or toys) and address various aspects of ecodesign, including circularity, durability, reusability, and reparability. Projects should develop testing methods, analyze material flows, and provide recommendations for incentives to promote sustainable product design. The call is open to a range of entities, including universities, research institutes, SMEs, and large enterprises from EU member states and associated countries. Funding is provided as lump sum grants, with varying budgets depending on the specific topic. The submission deadline is September 17, 2025. Successful proposals are encouraged to cooperate with the JRC to foster coordination with on-going JRC science for policy activities to foster the implementation of the European Sustainable Product Regulation.