The EU has recently paved the way for longer-lasting products. Now we must enshrine this ambition into our future European Green Deal, Coolproducts campaigners wrote in a letter to the incoming European Commission this week.
As part of the ENgage project, which looks at bringing environmental NGOs closer to standardisation, ECOS Programme Manager Lindsey Wuisan gave a presentation in Prague, to raise awareness on the importance of ecodesign and standardisation, at the national standardisation agency CAS.
The European Commission has just published its Annual Union Work Programme for European Standardisation for 2020. Well worth a read, it identifies priorities for European standardisation for the coming year.
Under the cryptic designation of FprEN 45554 hides a newly approved standard which paves the way for a market transition towards more repairable, reusable and upgradable products, a significant contribution towards a circular economy.
Following from the decision by the European Commission to make provisions for the exclusion of halogenated flame retardants from electronic displays, a decision supported by ECOS, EEB and the Coolproducts campaign, the resulting legislation has now been published despite strong opposition from chemicals industry stakeholders.
Biodegradable plastics are often seen as improved versions of regular plastics. There is a certain comfort in thinking that our plastic products could disappear completely, as if they had never existed. However, the reality is very different. Biodegradable plastics are not an alternative to regular plastics. It is important to keep in mind that biodegradability is only an end-of-life management option. Prevention of plastic production and use, but also reuse, rank higher in the waste hierarchy and are simply a better choice.
After years of ignoring this product group with a great potential for water and energy savings, the European Commission is finally moving forward.
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