InDiCo Global: Where digital transformation and standards meet
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By In a new project under the InDiCo Global initiative, ECOS is tackling green digitalisation in the African region, with a focus on Kenya. Starting with two webinars, we will provide a platform for African and European stakeholders to exchange on global policy and standards, working towards the shared goal of resilient, green, and digital economies.
ICT products – including computers, phones, and tablets – can have damaging environmental impacts. As global demand for these products soars, managing the end-of-life challenges has become urgent. This is especially true in developing economies, which as secondary markets for refurbished products are disproportionately affected by issues like e-waste.
Effective and environmentally ambitious policies and standards can help to address the negative impacts of ICT products. However, global collaboration and exchange are key, because different regions approach the challenges in different ways – and both technical and local knowledge must play a role.
In a new project, ECOS will work at the nexus of ICT products and the environment; policy and standards; Africa and Europe. With activities focusing on Kenya, our aim is to increase awareness of the environmental implications of the ICT value-chain and facilitate exchanges of knowledge between stakeholders in Africa and Europe, unlocking opportunities for collaboration.
Shaping ICT standards with InDiCo Global
Standards and policies affect every part of the ICT value chain – from ecodesign and manufacturing to procurement and repair. What materials are used? Are any of them toxic? Can consumers repair the products? Are there opportunities for recycling? What happens when products become waste? These are just a few questions tackled in standards and policy – and it is important to get the answers right.
Sharing knowledge and best practices between regions to increase environmental ambition is a central goal of the InDiCo Global initiative, which our project is part of. Our contribution includes delivering two webinars, one in-person workshop in Nairobi, and a report on inclusive standards and technical policies for circular ICT. We will provide a platform to facilitate exchanges between public institutions and authorities, standards development organisations, industry, and civil society – including environmental organisations.
Get involved
Do you work on ICT products, standards, or policy? Register for our events, led by Mathieu Rama, Senior Programme Manager at ECOS, and contribute to InDiCo Global and green digitalisation.
Webinar 1: Exploring the environmental impacts of ICT products
- When: Thursday 25 June at 11h (CEST)
- Where: Online (Zoom)
- Link to register: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_oU3C6HgTQES11Rk36NwiQg
In the first webinar, we will share information about the environmental impacts of ICT products. We will also introduce examples of ecodesign and e-waste management standards and policies, exploring best practices and insights from Europe and Africa.
Webinar 2: Boosting the uptake of sustainable ICT products
- When: Thursday 2 July at 11h (CEST)
- Where: Online (Zoom)
- Link to register: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7tWWVBwWRWG0493m0qXu-w
The second webinar will focus on the potential of solutions like digital product passports and sustainable procurement for boosting the uptake of sustainable ICT products, including in the Kenyan context.
In-person workshop: Inclusive standards and technical policies for circular ICT
This workshop will take place in Nairobi, Kenya in Q4 2026 – date to be confirmed. It will be an interactive session to identify the enablers of and barriers to the adoption of sustainable ICT policies and standards in the African region. Do you want to attend? Let us know and we will keep you up to date. Contact Marxine Waite: marxine.waite@ecostandard.org
Follow the project
‘Promoting green digitalisation: Sharing EU ICT product standardisation and policy insights’, is an ECOS micro-project, and one of the beneficiaries of the broader InDiCo Global initiative.
InDiCo Global brings together the three European Standardisation Organisations: ETSI, CEN, and CENELEC – each with its pool of thousands of standards experts in Europe and beyond. Working with consortium members and project beneficiaries, including ECOS, the initiative aims to shape global standards and enhance collaboration. Subscribe to the InDiCo Global newsletter for updates.
Get in touch to find out more about ECOS’s micro-project as part of this broader initiative. Contact Marxine Waite (marxine.waite@ecostandard.org) or Mathieu Rama (mathieu.rama@ecostandard.org).
This work is part of the ECOS project ‘Promoting green digitalisation: Sharing EU ICT product standardisation and policy insights’. This project is one of the beneficiaries of a grant under the first Open Call under InDiCo-Global, which is a project funded as part of the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement No 101136022. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
