ABSTRACT
When integrated product policy (IPP) appeared on the political agenda in the European Union during the second half of the 1990s, there was a feeling that European environmental policy was embarking on a new and exciting journey. In early 2000, another ambitious strategy saw the light, when the Commission launched the reform of European governance. The IPP Green Paper argued for the 'strong involvement of all stakeholders on all potential levels of action' in its development. The Communication states that the most important role of IPP is to 'strengthen the co-ordination and coherence between existing and future environment-related product policy instruments'. One of the other key areas where governance could contribute to the success of IPP is in its promotion of the use of non-legislative tools. Co-regulation, self-regulation and the open co-ordination method could become significant instruments for driving industry action and Member State involvement in what is still seen as a mainly voluntary agenda.
