Negotiations on the EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) [1] have concluded – activating a new era for sustainable products. More products will be covered by ambitious ecodesign rules, pushing the most polluting goods off the market and incentivising manufacturers to prioritise the environment. The ESPR is a victory for our planet – and for ECOS, following its longstanding call for optimised and broader ecodesign rules that apply to all sectors [2].
What is at stake as we head towards the trilogue on the EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) on 4 December? Find out in our briefing.
The European Parliament gave in to throwaway culture today in its position on the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) proposal, issued by the European Commission one year ago [1]. MEPs voted on hundreds of amendments, many of which aimed to undermine the environmental ambition of the legislative text. The abundance of options provoked a barrage of false claims, scaremongering, and intense lobbying from industry players in the run-up to the vote.
Labels claiming that plastic water bottles are ‘100% recycled’ and/or ‘100% recyclable’ can be misleading. A coalition of consumer rights, legal, and environmental organisations seek to put an end to the proliferation of such claims.
The number of electronics on the EU market increased by more than 85% between 2013-2021, new Eurostat data reveals [1]. This is leading to a similarly expanding rate of e-waste [2]. A bold and urgent answer is needed from the EU to mitigate environmental damage caused by Europe’s exponentially growing reliance on electronics.
F-gases, not commonly known but commonly used in household appliances like fridges, air conditioners, and heat pumps, will be phased down in the EU – with some types of F-gases banned completely. F-gases are responsible for 2.5% of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions – but not for much longer. Today, the European Commission, Parliament, and Council reached a bold agreement on the revised F-Gas Regulation, strengthening the EU’s role as a climate leader.
Media briefing: The EU has long been a global frontrunner in the phase-out of fluorinated refrigerants (F-gases), which are responsible for 2.5% of EU greenhouse gas emissions and the bloc’s primary source of forever chemicals (PFAS). In this week’s final trilogue on the revised F-Gas Regulation, we urge negotiators not to waste this opportunity and ensure that F-gases are phased out in as many sectors and applications as possible.
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