Developing a single charger for phones, laptops and other small devices is not as straightforward as it seems. Even with a common connector, consumers need standardised and clear information on the features that chargers available on the market have - such as voltage, charging speed and data transfer functionalities. At the same time, manufacturers must stop shipping charger with every new device. Our new report puts forward a package of innovative ecodesign policies which, if implemented, will bring about huge environmental savings and help avoid tonnes of pointless e-waste.
ECOS seeks to commission a study to identify and specify minimum requirements for circular textiles, focusing specifically on material efficiency aspects (primarily focusing on durability, some aspects of reusability, repairability, recyclability) and exploring ways to drive more environmentally responsible design of textile products through policy and standard recommendations.
As temperatures across Europe beat records summer after summer, air conditioner manufacturers rub their hands in glee. No wonder - their sales are skyrocketing. By 2050, the IEA expects the number of air conditioners in buildings to reach 5.6 billion, up from 1.6 billion today. Around two-thirds of the world’s households could have air-con by then.
Today, the European Commission published two communications that are set to mark important changes in the EU energy system: “An EU Strategy for Energy System Integration” as well as its complementary “Hydrogen Strategy”. These two initiatives were preceded by dedicated consultations and add to the many strategies that the European Commission is pushing in the context of its Green Deal.
Large companies in the EU are obliged to disclose information on their environmental and social responsibility actions – but no standard reporting methods exist, making it impossible to compare actions across companies. To tackle this problem, ECOS asked the Commission to introduce common indicators under the EU Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD), currently under review.
We are excited to welcome a new member to the ECOS Network: Repair & Share is a Belgian non-profit organisation dedicated to improving the quality, repairability and lifespan of products.
ECOS is looking for an experienced Policy Director to take up a key leadership role in the organisation.
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.