ESPR: What Challenges for the Abrasives Industry?
What Is ESPR, the New Engine of Innovation?
ESPR is a cornerstone of the European Green Deal for industry. Replacing the 2009 Ecodesign Directive, it broadens the scope of energy efficiency requirements to nearly all manufactured goods, from textiles to building materials.
With the adoption of the 2025–2030 work plan in April 2025, ESPR has entered its implementation phase:
- 2,5 years of regulatory work to define implementing acts.
- 18 months for compliance.
- Effective application from 2028 onwards.
The regulation introduces requirements for durability, reliability, repairability, and recyclability. Its novelty lies in a life-cycle approach: manufacturers must now account for impacts from raw material extraction to end-of-life, starting at the design stage.
Another game-changer: the Digital Product Passport (DPP). This electronic identity card will store key data on a product composition and environmental performance. It is set to become a standard in B2B and B2C procurement, creating new pressure for verifiable CSR practices.
Strategic Implications for the Abrasives Industry
ESPR impacts the abrasives sector across three strategic fronts:
- Eco-design of materials
The requirement for recyclability challenges the use of complex binders, resins, or backings. Manufacturers must demonstrate that products can be disassembled or reintegrated into new production cycles. This reduces resource use while strengthening supply chain resilience. - Performance and durability
Planned obsolescence is out. Products must be designed to last and, where relevant, to be repaired or maintained. For abrasives, repairability is impossible and represents a serious threat to the end-user. Therefore, the emphasis will be on consistent performance and resource efficiency over the full product’s life cycle. - Proof and traceability
The DPP transforms reporting obligations. Declarations will no longer suffice: manufacturers will have to provide digital, accessible, and verifiable data on product composition, origin, and impact. Transparency will become a new driver of trust.
When Innovation Becomes a Competitive Advantage
Faced with these requirements, some companies are already moving
ahead-showing how industrial performance and environmental responsibility can align:
- Mirka: Circularity Through Major Innovation
Finnish manufacturer Mirka invested €25 million in a breakthrough plant dedicated to circular abrasive grains. By transforming waste and secondary streams—often destined for landfill—into recycled grains, the facility has already cut emissions by around 5,000 tons of CO₂, demonstrating the significant environmental gain of circular production at scale. - Munksjö: Eco-design at the Source
Munksjö develops high-performance paper backings under a Safe and Sustainable by Design approach. The papers are made from responsibly sourced fibers, with ongoing efforts to incorporate recycled content in new grades. Combining durability, strength, and technical performance, these backings support more efficient use of materials across the supply chain.
And Tomorrow?
ESPR is only the beginning. Discussions are already underway on how to integrate social criteria more deeply into eco-design.
For the abrasives industry, the message is clear: it is no longer just about producing, but about producing differently. Companies able to turn regulatory challenge into a driver of innovation which will help redefine the future of the sector.
The transition will require effort, investment, and collective vision—but it also opens the door to renewed competitiveness, grounded in responsible innovation and customer trust.