// PRODUCT CATEGORY
Washing Machines Under ESPR
Washing machines are among the first household appliances to be covered by the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (EU 2024/1781). Washing machines are already subject to ecodesign requirements under Commission Regulation EU 2019/2023, but ESPR will add Digital Product Passport obligations and strengthen existing requirements for repairability, spare parts availability, and recycled content.
Truth Anchor: Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/2023 sets current ecodesign requirements for household washing machines and washer-dryers. ESPR Article 4 empowers the Commission to adopt new delegated acts that will supersede or supplement these requirements. Source: EUR-Lex CELEX:32024R1781
Current Regulatory Framework for Washing Machines
Washing machines are currently regulated under Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/2023, which sets ecodesign requirements including minimum energy efficiency standards, maximum water consumption limits, minimum noise limits, and spare parts availability requirements. The regulation requires manufacturers to make spare parts available for ten years after the last unit of a model is placed on the EU market and to provide repair and maintenance information to professional repairers.
The EU Energy Labelling Regulation (EU 2017/1369) and its delegated regulation for washing machines (EU 2019/2014) require energy efficiency labelling on a scale from A to G. These requirements are already in force and are separate from ESPR, but the ESPR DPP will incorporate energy efficiency data.
ESPR will build on this existing framework by adding Digital Product Passport requirements, strengthening recycled content requirements, and potentially extending spare parts availability obligations. The ESPR delegated act for washing machines is expected to be adopted in 2026–2027.
Expected ESPR Additions for Washing Machines
Digital Product Passport: Every washing machine placed on the EU market after the delegated act compliance date must have a DPP accessible via a QR code on the product or its packaging. The DPP will contain energy efficiency data, water consumption data, spare parts availability information, recycled content data, and end-of-life instructions.
Recycled content requirements: The ESPR delegated act is expected to set minimum recycled content requirements for plastics and metals used in washing machines. The preparatory studies suggest requirements of 25–30% recycled plastics and 30–50% recycled steel. Manufacturers must be able to verify and disclose recycled content percentages in the DPP.
Microplastics filter: The Commission has proposed requiring washing machines to be equipped with microplastics filters to capture synthetic fibres released during washing. This requirement may be included in the ESPR delegated act or in a separate regulation. Manufacturers should prepare for this requirement as it is widely expected to be mandatory by 2025–2026.
Extended spare parts availability: The current requirement for ten years of spare parts availability may be extended under ESPR. The Commission's preparatory studies have considered extending the requirement to fifteen years for major components such as motors, drums, and control boards.
Digital Product Passport Data for Washing Machines
| Data Category | Required Data Fields | Source Regulation |
|---|---|---|
| Energy performance | Energy efficiency class (A–G), rated capacity (kg), energy consumption per cycle (kWh), annual energy consumption (kWh) | EU 2019/2023 + ESPR |
| Water performance | Rated water consumption per cycle (litres), annual water consumption (litres) | EU 2019/2023 + ESPR |
| Noise | Airborne acoustical noise emission (dB(A)) during washing and spinning | EU 2019/2023 |
| Repairability | Spare parts list, availability period (years), repair manual URL, professional repairer access | EU 2019/2023 + ESPR |
| Recycled content | Recycled plastics %, recycled steel %, total weight (kg) | ESPR Annex III |
| Microplastics | Filter type (if fitted), filter efficiency %, maintenance instructions | ESPR (expected) |
| Substances of concern | Hazardous substances in drum, gaskets, and electronics | REACH + ESPR Annex III |
| End-of-life | Disassembly instructions, material recovery rates, take-back scheme | WEEE + ESPR Annex III |
What Washing Machine Manufacturers Must Do Now
Manufacturers and importers of washing machines should use the period before the ESPR delegated act to prepare their DPP systems and data collection processes. The most important preparatory steps are: establishing recycled content measurement and verification processes for plastics and steel; reviewing spare parts supply chain commitments to ensure ten-year (and potentially fifteen-year) availability can be guaranteed; assessing microplastics filter integration options for current and future product designs; and selecting a DPP registry provider that can integrate with existing product data systems.
Manufacturers who already comply with EU 2019/2023 will have a significant head start on ESPR compliance, as much of the required data is already being collected. The main additional work is establishing the DPP data feed and QR code infrastructure, and adding recycled content and substance of concern data to existing product records.
Washing Machines Under Existing Ecodesign Regulation
Household washing machines have been subject to EU Ecodesign requirements since 2010. The current regulation (EU 2019/2023) entered into force in March 2021 and introduced enhanced energy efficiency requirements, a rescaled Energy Label, and new requirements for water consumption, noise, and spin efficiency. The regulation also introduced the first EU-level repairability requirements for washing machines — manufacturers must make spare parts available for at least 10 years after the last unit is placed on the market, and must be able to supply spare parts within 15 working days. The ESPR delegated act for washing machines will extend these requirements to include Digital Product Passport obligations and will likely strengthen the repairability requirements further.
Microplastic Filtration and ESPR Washing Machine Requirements
Washing machines are a significant source of microplastic pollution — each wash cycle can release hundreds of thousands of synthetic microfibre particles into wastewater. The EU Commission has been developing measures to address microplastic pollution from washing machines under the ESPR framework. The ESPR delegated act for washing machines is expected to introduce requirements for microplastic filtration — either mandatory installation of microplastic filters in new washing machines, or minimum filtration efficiency requirements for washing machines sold in the EU. The ESPR DPP for washing machines will need to declare the microplastic filtration status of the machine and, where a filter is installed, the filter efficiency and maintenance requirements.
Connected Washing Machines and Smart Grid Interaction
Modern premium washing machines increasingly include WiFi connectivity and smart home integration. The EU's Smart Appliances initiative aims to enable washing machines to respond to grid signals — shifting wash cycles to periods of high renewable energy generation. The ESPR delegated act for washing machines may include requirements for smart readiness — the ability to receive and respond to demand response signals from energy suppliers or home energy management systems. Manufacturers that implement smart readiness features in their washing machines should declare the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) score in the ESPR DPP, as this will become an increasingly important purchasing criterion for consumers and building managers.
| Washing Machine Feature | EU 2019/2023 Requirement | ESPR DPP Addition Expected |
|---|---|---|
| Energy efficiency | Minimum Class E (rescaled label) | Carbon footprint per wash cycle |
| Water consumption | Maximum litres per kg of laundry | Water footprint per wash cycle |
| Spare parts availability | 10 years, delivery within 15 days | Repairability score in DPP |
| Microplastic filtration | Not yet required (under development) | Filter efficiency declaration in DPP |
| Smart readiness | Not required | SRI score declaration in DPP |
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Washing machines are currently regulated under Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/2023, which sets energy efficiency, water consumption, noise, and spare parts availability requirements. ESPR will add DPP obligations and strengthen recycled content requirements.
The ESPR delegated act for washing machines is expected in 2026–2027, with mandatory compliance likely from 2028–2029 following a transition period.
The Commission has proposed microplastics filter requirements. This may be included in the ESPR delegated act or a separate regulation. Manufacturers should prepare for this requirement as it is widely expected by 2025–2026.
Current EU 2019/2023 requirements mandate ten years of spare parts availability. ESPR may extend this to fifteen years for major components. Manufacturers should plan for extended availability commitments.
The preparatory studies suggest requirements of 25–30% recycled plastics and 30–50% recycled steel. The exact percentages will be set in the delegated act.
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Current Ecodesign Requirements for Washing Machines
Washing machines are already subject to comprehensive ecodesign and energy labelling requirements under EU Regulation 2019/2023 (ecodesign) and EU Regulation 2019/2014 (energy labelling), which took effect on 1 March 2021. These regulations set minimum energy efficiency requirements (expressed as the Energy Efficiency Index, or EEI), minimum water efficiency requirements, minimum spin efficiency requirements, and requirements for the availability of spare parts and repair information. The ESPR delegated act for washing machines will build on these existing requirements and add new requirements for DPP data disclosure and recyclability.
Under the current ecodesign regulation, manufacturers must make available spare parts for washing machines for a minimum of 10 years after the last unit is placed on the market. The spare parts that must be available include: door seals, door hinges, door handles, pump filters, drain pumps, programme selectors, electronic control boards, heating elements, drum bearings, and tub bearings. The ESPR delegated act is expected to maintain or extend these spare parts availability requirements and add a requirement to disclose spare parts availability and pricing in the DPP.
DPP Data Requirements for Washing Machines
The DPP for washing machines is expected to include: the product's energy efficiency class and EEI; the product's water consumption per cycle; the product's rated capacity; the product's spin efficiency class; the product's noise level during washing and spinning; the availability and pricing of spare parts; the product's carbon footprint across its full lifecycle; the percentage of recycled content in key materials; information on substances of concern (particularly flame retardants and plasticisers in plastic components); and instructions for disassembly and recycling at end-of-life.
The carbon footprint calculation for washing machines is dominated by the use-phase energy consumption, which accounts for approximately 70–80% of the total lifecycle carbon footprint. Manufacturers will need to calculate the carbon footprint of their products using a standardised methodology that accounts for the energy mix of the EU electricity grid. As the EU electricity grid decarbonises, the use-phase carbon footprint of washing machines will decrease — manufacturers should use the EU's projected electricity mix for 2030 and 2050 in their carbon footprint calculations to provide a forward-looking view.
Frequently Asked Questions
The ESPR delegated act for washing machines is expected to be adopted in 2025–2026, superseding the existing EU Regulation 2019/2023. Manufacturers should plan for compliance by 2027–2028. The existing regulation remains in force until the ESPR delegated act takes effect.
No. The DPP requirement applies to products placed on the EU market after the compliance date specified in the delegated act. Existing models already on the market do not need a DPP. However, manufacturers who continue to sell existing models after the compliance date must provide a DPP for those models.
The current ecodesign regulation requires 10 years of spare parts availability after last sale. The ESPR delegated act is expected to maintain or extend this requirement. The DPP must disclose the availability and pricing of spare parts, making it easier for consumers and repair technicians to access this information.
The EU energy label for washing machines was rescaled in March 2021 (from A+++ to A-G). The ESPR delegated act may require further rescaling as the market improves. The DPP will include the energy label class and the Energy Efficiency Index, providing a machine-readable version of the energy label data.
The EU has proposed requirements for microplastic filters on washing machines under a separate regulation. The ESPR DPP for washing machines is expected to include information on microplastic filter performance and availability, given that microplastic pollution from synthetic textiles is a significant environmental concern addressed by the EU's textile strategy.