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Nature is the living system that makes all economic activity possible. From clean water, filtered by forests, to birds controlling crop-eating insects, nature quietly sustains us every day. Businesses and governments therefore have a lot to gain from understanding how their decisions impact ecosystems. Life’s intrinsic right to exist is inalienable and rules to protect it need monitoring to check that they are effective. But how do we measure impacts on biodiversity? And how can we use that information to improve how we steward ecosystems?
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Most of our daily lives have come to rely on petrochemical products: plastic packaging, car parts, building materials, synthetic clothing, electronics, paints, detergents, medical equipment… the list goes on. The industry brands itself as the “mother of all industries” for a reason: it sits behind countless products and value chains. And the climate footprint is massive.
We are looking for a highly motivated Programme Officer to join our Circular Economy & Nature team as soon as possible. The successful candidate will work on standardisation, policy developments, and project management related to ecodesign and energy labelling, in the framework of the EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), with a focus on textiles, apparel, and footwear.
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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.
We are looking for a highly motivated Global Engagement trainee to learn about environmental policy and standards whilst supporting our Global Engagement team in Nairobi and gain valuable experience working in a dynamic and influential environmental NGO. Apply before 25 May 2026.
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Cutting human-caused methane emissions would have an immediate impact. How can Europe keep its promise on methane? ECOS Programme Manager Edoardo Bodo and Senior Press & Communications Manager Alison Grace explain. First published in Sustainable Views by the Financial Times.
ECOTECA is the latest Romanian member of ECOS. We are eager to work with them on waste management and circular economy policies!
The EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) will require mandatory minimum ecodesign requirements for apparel. Join this ECOS webinar as we assess the timeline and progress of this delegated act and discuss opportunities to get involved.
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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.
The European Commission’s proposed ‘EU Product Act’ could provide necessary revisions to ensure coherence and consistency and further reinforce EU product policy. Watch back the recording of our recent webinar, where our experts unpack this framework of EU legislation and discuss how to build a competitive and future-proof Single Market that is fit for circular economy and the digital transition
Co-hosted by ECOS and Climate Group, this webinar will provide in depth expertise on the Industrial Accelerator Act, particularly its implications for industrial decarbonisation.
The European Commission’s proposed ‘EU Product Act’ could provide necessary revisions to ensure coherence and consistency and further reinforce EU product policy. Join this ECOS webinar on 14 April as our experts unpack this framework of EU legislation and discuss how to build a competitive and future-proof Single Market that is fit for circular economy and the digital transition.
The ECOS Network Days are happening on 9 and 10 June in Brussels. We hope to see many of our members in these two days of learning and of celebration for the 25 years of ECOS!
Watch the recording from our recent workshop, where we discussed the standardisation process, best practices, and recent developments for solutions for packaging minimisation, refill, and reuse.
This year we celebrate 25 years of ECOS. For a quarter of a century, our international network of members, experts, and partners has been the environmental voice in standards – hear from them in a new series of testimonials as we celebrate this milestone. We look forward to welcoming ECOS members to our network days and AGM next week to further celebrate our 25th anniversary. We also have an update from the ECOS Africa project on green digitalisation – registration is now open for two webinars, where we will discuss the environmental impact of ICT products and the uptake of sustainable alternatives.
This month we hosted a webinar to discuss the proposed EU Product Act and we co-hosted a session on the Industrial Accelerator Act – missed it? Watch back the recordings in this edition of our newsletter. We also announced some new vacancies in the ECOS team this month – and shared a new interview with our latest member - we invite you to join the ECOS network! All this and more in this edition of the ECOS newsletter.
This month we unpack the EU’s packaging regulations, take a look at the potential of the EU Digital Product Passport, and assess how the Public Procurement Directives could decarbonise heavy industry. We also published our annual report for 2025, detail a new project from our ECOS Africa office, and share plenty of upcoming events and opportunities to meet with the ECOS team, as well the usual updates from our international network of members and partners.
This month, we explain the importance and value of civil society representation in European standardisation, helping to build stronger standards. We also have an update from our ECOS Africa office, as we continue to work with national partners on standards and a Green Public Procurement (GPP) approach to low-carbon construction, and in our latest blog we discuss our valuable collaboration with partners in Kenya to inform the EU’s end of waste criteria.
Standards can have a great impact on our societies and our environment; therefore including civil society organisations with environmental expertise throughout the standards-making process can help to build stronger standards that work for society. ECOS is turning 25 this year! Learn about our priorities in our Work Programme for 2026 and we also take a look back at our successes from last year.
In our final newsletter of the year we share our expert insight on the European Standardisation Regulation and published a new factsheet on Environmental Attribute Certificates for steel (and how to ensure the right calculation methods are used). This month we also wrote about the benefits of energy labelling and had an interview with the European Commission’s DG ENV discussing how public procurement can accelerate a sustainable and competitive construction sector. Plus all the usual updates from our international network, including a new vacancy and calls for experts.
This month we called on EU leaders to include the essential environmental angle in the legal basis for the EU’s Circular Economy Act. We also reviewed the EU’s Bioeconomy Strategy and published a new factsheet on standards that underpin global trade rules for raw materials. Looking ahead we share a new vacancy in the team and write about expectations for the next United Nations Environment Assembly.
Press contact: Alison Grace – alison.grace@ecostandard.org +32 493 19 22 59
Press release, Brussels | The EU’s new Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) deprioritises decarbonisation with insufficient and unclear public procurement measures for clean industrial products and low quotas for concrete and steel, environmental group ECOS says. Mainstreaming green public procurement is the EU’s most powerful climate solution, with the power to make or break Europe’s climate credibility. Stifling its potential will be a missed opportunity, ECOS explains.
The Rethink Plastic Alliance is deeply concerned by the Commission’s decision to allow the use of certain problematic, so-called ‘chemical recycling’ technologies to achieve the EU’s recycling targets. The first full recognition of ‘chemical recycling’ can set a dangerous precedent for future legislation.
Press release, Brussels | The bioeconomy is not inherently circular or sustainable, it must be built that way. The EU’s revised Bioeconomy Strategy takes some steps to do that, but it missed opportunities to do a lot more, environmental organisation ECOS says.
Press release, Brussels | New Eurostat data released today exposes the scale of Europe's overconsumption of electronics and the continued failure to properly collect and recycle electronic waste. Environmental NGOs are urging the European Commission to take decisive action in the upcoming revision e-waste legislation: stronger and binding measures to prevent waste and promote repair, reuse and proper collection (including reuse targets), and robust EPR schemes with eco-modulated fees that hold producers accountable for their products throughout their life cycle.
Press release, Brussels | Today, EU lawmakers listened to citizens and science and rubber stamped the deal on the Soil Monitoring Law, the EU’s first ever law on soil health, after months of negotiations. Despite severe shortcomings of the endorsed text, this is an important milestone towards addressing Europe’s crisis of soil degradation. Its success will depend on impactful implementation.
Press release, Brussels | New NGO coalition unveils first members and launches EU methane regulation implementation tracker.
Press release, Brussels | European consumers need a strong Green Claims Directive to deter false claims, but concerning and unverified reports suggest the proposal is in jeopardy. If policymakers do not reach an ambitious agreement, greenwashing will continue, say environmental groups ECOS, ClientEarth, Carbon Market Watch, and the European Environmental Bureau.
ECOS is co-funded by the European Commission and EFTA
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or EISMEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.