The European Union (EU) will begin enforcing eco-design regulations starting in 2027, beginning with textiles and clothing. In response, the South Korean government is developing product evaluation standards to assist domestic companies. The aim is to establish a Korean standard that objectively measures product durability, ease of repair, and recyclability.
The National Institute of Environmental Research, under the Ministry of Climate Energy and Environment, announced on August 4 that it will hold a kickoff meeting for the development of evaluation standards for the 'Korean Eco-Design System' on August 5 at the Seoul Station Library in Yongsan.
Eco-design is an environmentally friendly design approach that enhances durability and repairability from the product design stage, thereby reducing waste and resource use. It considers not only the production and use phases but also the disposal stage, making it broader in scope than existing eco-friendly product certifications.
The EU will implement the 'Eco-Design Regulation for Sustainable Products (ESPR)' in July 2024. Consequently, most products sold in the European market must meet enhanced environmental standards from the design phase. The EU plans to gradually expand the range of applicable items, starting with textiles and clothing in 2027.
This research focuses on establishing domestic standards for objectively measuring and evaluating the eco-friendliness of products. The research team intends to analyze evaluation standards and measurement methods used in the EU and the international community to develop criteria applicable to various products.
Common evaluation criteria will include ease of repair, the proportion of recyclable materials, and the extent to which resources can be recovered after disposal. Separate evaluation standards will also be developed for the textiles and clothing sector, where EU regulations will first apply.
The National Institute of Environmental Research expects the results of this study to support domestic companies in responding to international environmental regulations and enhancing their export competitiveness. Following textiles and clothing, the plan is to gradually expand the development of evaluation standards to include tires, furniture, and electronic products.
Park Jung-min, head of the Environmental Resources Research Division at the National Institute of Environmental Research, stated, "We will closely communicate with the industry to ensure our companies can secure competitiveness amid changing global environmental regulations, and we will establish reasonable evaluation standards that fit the realities of the domestic industry."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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