No wheels, no driver, can't travel. The EU sustainable consumption and production action plan, a framework of policies towards eco-design of products for material efficiency?

The EU has a clear need to reduce its resource and material consumption to stay within biological and equitable limits. The EU Sustainable Consumption and Production and Sustainable Industry Policy Action Plan (SCP/SIP AP) published in 2008 is the new platform for development of policies on product eco-design and consumption. This article investigates the policies that could or do constitute drivers for product eco-design for material efficiency through various possible existing or foreseen policies. The scope includes the initiatives of the SCP/SIP AP itself and the various strategies and pieces of legislation that could be seen as part of the SCP legislative tool box, including the resources strategy, products and waste legislation. The underlying question is whether there is a comprehensive and effective sustainable consumption and production policy within the EU, and how far it goes.