Are Your Steel & Iron Products ESPR-Ready?
- Julien Pezet
- Jul 25
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 5
The EU is tightening regulations – and the iron and steel industry is in the spotlight. With the new Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), the EU is, for the first time, targeting specific product groups – including steel & iron products.
For many companies, this means:
You may be affected sooner than expected.
What is the ESPR?
The ESPR replaces the previous Ecodesign Directive and will soon extend its scope to nearly all physical products. The goal is to extend the lifespan of products, reduce their emissions, and enhance their reusability and recyclability.
For iron and steel products, metal sheets, components, semi-finished or intermediate goods, this means:
Mandatory disclosure of product data – such as recycled content, carbon footprint, critical raw materials, or dismantlability
Introduction of a Digital Product Passport (DPP) – with structured digital information across the entire supply chain
Ecodesign requirements for durability, reparability, and resource efficiency
Responsibility for supply chain data – including from non-EU suppliers and imports
In the steel industry, where many pre-products and sub-suppliers are typically involved, this can pose a significant (data) challenge.
What does this mean for your company?
If you manufacture, process, or trade products made of iron or steel, you may soon be required to:
Provide a Digital Product Passport (DPP) – with information on carbon footprint, recycled content, reparability, etc.
Ensure transparency across the supply chain – including the provision of CO₂ and material data from third countries
Comply with Ecodesign requirements – for product lifespan, recyclability, and material efficiency
Conduct life cycle assessments and provide environmental performance data – as a basis for both regulatory and market expectations
This leads to an important question for many businesses:
Which of our products are affected – and to what extent?
Our advice: Gain clarity now
Those who assess their portfolio early can respond in a targeted and cost-efficient way. And: the sustainability data you gather for the ESPR will also support your compliance with CSRD, CBAM, and client requests.
With the right approach, synergies can be leveraged effectively.
