The EU Commission confirmed their position on the Integrated Product Policy (IPP). In the communication from the commission to the council and the European Parliament in July 2003, it was established that the IPP will encourage sustainable development.

In doing so, an emphasis will be put upon looking at the entire life cycle of a product. The IPP will use the following approaches:

• Life Cycle Thinking: an aim to reduce cumulative environmental burdens.
• Cooperation with markets: incentives for developing innovative, best-practice companies that are engaged in sustainable development.
• Involvement of all stakeholders: All actors in the chain of added economic value (manufacturers and suppliers), use (consumers) and disposal (recyclers) must participate. 
• Continuous improvements: the limits of regulations don't define any conclusive status quo. 
• Implementation of policy instruments: The numerous combinations of regulations and voluntary industry agreements must be backed up by the right services.