Method for the assessment of EU Open Strategic Autonomy aspects in the context of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation
This report presents a novel method to assess how the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regula-tion (ESPR) can contribute to strengthening the European Union’s Open Strategic Autonomy (OSA). Developed under the ESPR Methodology, the methodological framework integrates four key aspects: (i) material composition, (ii) energy demand, (iii) market dynamics, and (iv) production and recycling routes into product-specific assessments.
The method combines OSA-related parameters with lifecycle and circularity parameters to define baselines, quantify supply dependencies, and design improvement scenarios. The applicability of the method was tested on two priority product groups: iron & steel and tyres. These case studies showed that ecodesign requirements related to durability, recycled content, or substitution can sub-stantially mitigate import reliance and supply risks linked to critical raw materials and energy use.
By providing a bottom-up, quantitative approach, the study demonstrates how product policy can play a pivotal role in reducing vulnerabilities across strategic value chains, supporting the EU’s com-petitiveness, sustainability, and resilience. The proposed framework offers policymakers robust evi-dence to align ecodesign measures with the broader EU agenda on climate neutrality, circular econ-omy, and industrial sovereignty.
MAURY Thibaut;
TORRES DE MATOS Cristina;
LODATO Concetta;
MATHIEUX Fabrice;
2025-12-01
Publications Office of the European Union
JRC143885
978-92-68-34354-8 (online),
1831-9424 (online),
EUR 40549,
OP KJ-01-25-594-EN-N (online),
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC143885,
10.2760/8436163 (online),
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