Claims companies make on the environmental performance of their products and activities are increasing. Sustainable products and processes, sustainable investments, green bonds, carbon neutral packaging…. Showcasing environmental footprints has become a marketing strategy, regardless of how reliable or relevant the information is. There is a great need to regulate these claims. Legislation needs to be […]
Post Type Archives: News & Events
EU bio-based, biodegradable & compostable plastics framework: can recommendations help control pollution?
This week, the European Commission is expected to publish a set of non-binding guidelines about how the market should use bio-based, biodegradable, and compostable plastics. First of all, let’s be clear: ‘bio-plastic’ is still… plastic. Bio-based plastics are simply sourced from biological resources rather than fossil material. Biodegradable plastic is most often fossil-based and relies […]
New EU Carbon Removal Certification Framework – can it stop greenwashing in the carbon market?
The EU has set itself on a path towards making Europe the first climate-neutral continent. To get there, all 27 EU Member States pledged to reduce emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. Unfortunately, CO2 emissions continue to rise pushing the planet toward dangerous warming thresholds. On 30 November, the European […]
Reuse and recycle by default – New EU packaging rules must end single-use
The amount of packaging waste we produce has increased dramatically in the last decade. Sadly, so far, waste prevention measures adopted by EU countries have not delivered on their targets. In 2020, every European citizen produced a staggering 177 kg of packaging waste (up by 18% from 2009) according to Eurostat. The simple truth […]
Hybrid Workshop: Green building materials – New standards for Cement & Concrete
The event aimed to initiate a fruitful dialogue, focusing on the actions and the role of the Greek cement industry at the national and European level regarding the decarbonisation of the sector, in accordance with the EU objectives for 2030. Representatives of competent bodies of the administration, scientific community, industry, and civil society presented their […]
New EU rules will make smartphones and tablets last longer and easier to repair – but true ‘right to repair’ still far
Last week, experts representing EU Member States rubberstamped the ecodesign requirements proposed by the European Commission that will apply to phones (smartphones, mobile phones, cordless phones) and tablets [1]. New rules are meant to reduce the environmental impact of phones and tablets. They will include durability requirements, and aim to improve the repairability and reliability […]
ECOS Newsletter – November 2022
Off the menu: are gas cooking appliances on their way out?
It’s simple: gas cooking pollutes the air we breathe at home. Pollution from gas hobs and stoves contributes to making indoor air two to five times dirtier than outdoor air, according to a recent study by the Rocky Mountain Institute of the United States. The European Union now has an opportunity to put an end […]
ENgage Workshop – Enhancing environmental protection through standards
Join us on 14 December to explore case studies from a number of countries, lessons learned and further actions aimed at boosting environmental civil society involvement in standardisation at national level, followed by a discussion on what else can be done to ensure wide and successful cooperation between civil society actors and NSBs towards greater environmental protection. […]
Join our workshop! Environmental Design & Labelling ‐ Role of Standards & Policy in India and EU
Ecodesign sets the minimum mandatory requirement for the energy efficiency of products such as household appliances, information and communication technologies, or engineering, as well as improving their environmental performance. Energy Labelling Regulation complements the ecodesign requirements with mandatory ecolabelling requirements. Would you like to know more about ecodesign and energy labelling regulation and its role […]
