ECOS | Environmental Coalition on Standards

News & events

  • 22 January 2024

    ECOS increases global reach with new Africa office

    By Marxine Waite
    By Alison Grace

    Environmental issues are interconnected and unconstrained by borders, but priorities differ based on geography and context. We need global efforts that ensure environmental ambition – something ECOS has been progressively working towards as part of our international strategy. We have just opened a new office in Nairobi, Kenya, focusing on the African region. International growth will allow us to collaborate closer with like-minded organisations in different parts of the world and strengthen the environmental voice in the development of policies, standards, and laws.

  • 11 January 2024

    LIFE ComplianceServices: Project will support companies to comply with EU energy labelling and ecodesign rules

    EU Ecodesign and energy labelling legislation is an important part of the EU's energy efficiency policy framework. This legislation helps to increase the energy efficiency of products and keeps consumers informed about energy consumption levels. It covers a growing number of products, which must all comply with relevant rules. Enter the LIFE ComplianceServices project

  • 03 January 2024

    What’s in store for 2024? Take a look at our Work Programme!

    The UN has declared 2021-2030 as the Decade of Ecological Restoration. The science has never been clearer: the time to step up for nature, biodiversity, and humanity is now. And this means wasting no time in putting into place an ambitious pathway to transform our societies and economies so that they operate in harmony with nature.

  • 18 December 2023

    Ambitious environmental policy, international cooperation, and momentum on standards: Highlights from 2023

    It was another busy year for standards and environmental policy in 2023. At ECOS, we took on new challenges, expanded our work programme, and grew the team and network – with our growing impact set to continue into 2024. As we approach the end of the year, here is a snapshot of some key moments from the last 12 months.

  • 13 December 2023

    Plastic pollution: Tackling a global crisis with local action

    By Mathias Falkenberg

    We have teamed up with the Mekong Institute in Khon Kaen, Thailand, to design and implement strategies that not only curb single-use plastics in local street food markets – but could also provide the foundation to develop international standards. We are working with local street food vendors, market managers, and customers to incentivise dining in with reusable tableware, nurture a “bring your own container” culture, and replace single-use plastics with alternative materials.

  • 05 December 2023

    Digging deep for World Soil Day

    By Martina Forbicini
    By Lloyd Evans

    Every day we take soil for granted – but there is a whole world beneath our feet, hidden from our view, that is not only teeming with life but provides invaluable support to human existence. On World Soil Day we focus on the need for robust policy, backed by global standards, to both protect and restore healthy soil to elevate its life-sustaining power.

  • 30 November 2023

    International action on plastics is slow, but the opportunity is still there

    By Mathias Falkenberg

    In November 2023, United Nations delegates convened for a third round of negotiations to discuss the ‘zero draft’ of the UN Plastics Treaty – a crucial international initiative to put an end to plastic pollution. Unfortunately, little progress was made with only one year left until the end of the process, but there is also good news: all options remain on the table, with strong indications of how international standards will be integral to the success of the Plastics Treaty.

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.

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