Integrated Product Policy (IPP) in Europe—a development model and some impressions

The paper provides an overview of Integrated Product Policy (IPP). It stresses scientific approaches, describes the development process of IPP within the European Union and analyses the activities in several countries. In this context, a development model is introduced to illustrate the varying dynamics of adopting this approach and putting it into practice. Finally, the paper ends with some challenges for the future IPP-process, namely linkage IPP/innovation, clarification and concretisation of the concept at the example of some pilot projects, linkage IPP and sustainability and possible additional development stages.