LCA and eco-design between innovation and responsibility Environmental policies and consumer protection

Abstract

The evolution of environmental regulation and consumer protection law is driving a profound transformation of production and commercial models, gradually orienting them towards sustainability and social responsibility. This regulatory development raises a structural challenge: how to reconcile the reduction of environmental impacts with the parallel need to strengthen consumer protection. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and eco-design emerge as essential tools in this respect: LCA makes it possible to analyse environmental effects throughout a product’s life cycle, thereby providing a scientific basis for policies on responsible consumption and production, while eco-design integrates sustainability criteria at the design stage, fostering durability, repairability and recyclability. This transition is increasingly reflected in binding legal instruments. The Eco-design for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) introduces stricter design requirements; Directive 2019/771 on legal guarantees reinforces the right to durable and repairable goods; and the proposed Green Claims Directive seeks to regulate environmental claims, preventing greenwashing and ensuring that information provided to consumers is verifiable and transparent. International standards such as ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 provide methodological guidance for LCA, while principles like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and the precautionary principle impose regulatory obligations on producers to manage end-of-life processes and adopt preventive measures to minimise risks. The emerging right to repair further consolidates this approach, requiring manufacturers to provide spare parts and ensure access to information necessary for maintenance and repair.