Against a backdrop of political shifts, competing interests, and the stark realities of a changing climate, 2026 will be challenging in many ways – but hopefully still a year full of important milestones and steps forward for ambitious environmental protection.
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Annex III of the EU Standardisation Regulation supports representation of societal and small business interests in standards-making. It has opened the door to a wealth of knowledge and experience that gives balance, legitimacy, and real-life insight into standardisation, ensuring that European standards are fit for a future-proof Single Market.
Continue readingWhat can the EU do to make electrification work? From renewables to efficiency – and everything in-between – discover the six energy transition essentials in our factsheet.
Continue readingAgainst a backdrop of political shifts, competing interests, and the stark realities of a changing climate, 2026 will be challenging in many ways – but hopefully still a year full of important milestones and steps forward for ambitious environmental protection.
Learn more about our prioritiesStandards are more than just a market tool, they directly impact people and the environment, which means an inclusive and multi-stakeholder approach that involves environmental stakeholders is crucial in shaping European standards that support a circular, sustainable, resilient, and competitive European economy.
Learn more in our factsheetRead on to learn about why and how trade measures supporting climate action must ensure credible and accurate Environmental Attribute Certificates to achieve real steel decarbonisation.
Continue readingGlobal trade rules on raw materials are underpinned by standards. Those who set them decide who trades, whose practices are legitimised, whose voices count, and how resources are governed. Trade rules and related standards must be worthy of people and planet. Our factsheet shows how.
Continue readingWithout standard testing methods, it can be difficult to keep harmful products off the market as testing procedures and results will differ between EU Member States. Chemical bans or restrictions are also often delayed when standard testing methods are not in place.
Continue readingReport by ECOS with Open Future. How data centre expansion risks derailing climate goals and how to fix it. An analysis of the environmental impacts of data centres, the solutions to this, and possible EU policy responses.
Continue readingThe European Commission has presented its draft Delegated Act under the CRCF Regulation, outlining methodologies for certifying carbon removals. In our joint statement, we call for nine key improvements to improve its robustness and environmental integrity.
Continue readingBuy Better to Build Better provided feedback and targeted evidence on the importance of effectively revising the EU Public Procurement Directives.
Continue readingThis Coolproducts position paper from ECOS and EEB welcomes the long-overdue publication of the European Commission’s draft Ecodesign and Energy Labelling regulations for space and water heaters. It sets out targeted recommendations to strengthen the proposals, raise ambition on efficiency standards, and ensure the regulations effectively support the phase-out of fossil heating while delivering cleaner, smarter appliances for consumers.
Continue readingRethink Plastic alliance responds to the European Commission’s proposal for a Delegated Act to exempt pallet wrappings and straps from the 100% reuse targets in the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation/
Continue readingThis paper provides technical recommendations to inform the European Commission’s forthcoming implementing act under Articles 29 and 30 of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). The objective is to establish a harmonised and auditable methodology for calculating and verifying the share of reusable packaging placed on the market by economic operators.
Continue readingThe EU Standardisation Regulation legally recognises the importance of input from civil society organisations - but they still face barriers to meaningful participation. Reinforcing the obligation for inclusiveness will ensure that harmonised standards are developed with the effective participation of civil society, so that they can truly meet the needs of policy, markets, and society across the EU and beyond.
Continue readingThe Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) has published the second draft of its Corporate Net Zero Standard (CNZS), which is open for public consultation until 12 December 2025.
Continue readingPlastic recycling claims are commonly made on product packaging or in adverts - but how can you tell if it's greenwashing? Does the recycling claim contains false information? Or is the presentation deceive likely to deceive the average consumer even if is factually correct? Learn how to spot greenwashing in our new checklist developed in collaboration with ClientEarth.
Continue readingDespite its potential, strategic and sustainable food procurement remains underutilised due to procedural complexities, legal uncertainties, and administrative burdens. In our joint letter to EU leaders, we call for a targeted simplification - while fully maintaining high health, social, labour, animal welfare, and environmental standards - to provide greater clarity, practical guidance, and legal certainty for contracting authorities and economic operators alike.
Continue readingBuy Better to Build Better (BBBB) - a coalition of industry, civil society, and public authorities - say that the quotas in the Industrial Accelerator Act are disconnected from what is feasible and needed to create strong lead markets for concrete and steel in Europe.
Continue readingMarket surveillance includes the monitoring, verification, and enforcement of European and national legislation. It is necessary to ensure that requirements on products result in tangible economic and environmental benefits. Read our evaluation of the possible revision of Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 on market surveillance and compliance of products.
Continue readingAlongside other civil society organisations, ECOS is calling for the Greenhouse Gas Protocol's Scope 2 guidance to be updated. It must ensure more transparent and accurate emissions reporting, drive new, around-the-clock renewable deployment, and prevent cost-shifting onto all ratepayers for the benefit of a powerful few. Read our joint letter.
Continue readingJoint open letter to European Commissioner Jessika Roswall to stipulate a common charging plug for electric bicycles and other light means of transport.
Continue readingOver 60 civil society organisations are calling on the European Commission to support a draft French law that seeks to rein in the most harmful commercial practices in the fashion sector. In an open letter, the signatories explain how the French law would strengthen extended producer responsibility rules for textiles by penalising commercial practices that drive overproduction in the fashion sector.
Continue readingIn our joint letter to the INC Bureau we emphasise that fulfilling that mandate of the UN Global Plastics Treaty requires leadership that is fair, transparent, and committed to the public interest. The election for a new Chair must help restore trust in the process, ensure transparency and inclusivity, and steer the process towards outcomes grounded in science, human rights, environmental health, and environmental justice
Continue reading56 organisations have written to EU leaders to express strong concern that the legal basis of the Circular Economy Act could be based solely on the Internal Market. The signatories emphasise that a dual legal basis, incorporating an appropriate environmental legal basis, is essential to ensure the Act is legally robust, politically coherent, and achieves its goals.
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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.