Against a backdrop of political shifts, competing interests, and the stark realities of a changing climate, 2024 was challenging in many ways – but still a year full of important milestones and steps forward for ambitious environmental protection.
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In our latest infographic, we outline the steps required to safely reuse structural timber in renovation and construction. Using wood for longer, following the cascading principle, helps to avoid waste and reduce carbon emissions.
Learn moreThis paper explores opportunities for policies and standards to maximise timber reuse and recycling in structural buildings. We make recommendations on different regulations and standards, which can either support or create unwanted barriers to achieving this goal.
Continue readingCompanies have a key role in tackling climate change by reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. Ensuring credible and accurate Chain of Custody models in Environmental Attribute Certificates is key to this.
Continue readingIn this briefing, we review recent and upcoming developments in EU policy and standards that are relevant to forestry, timber, and construction and explore the untapped potential of public procurement to drive demand for sustainable construction materials.
Continue readingThis report provides a blueprint for assessing the life-cycle environmental footprints of physical and chemical plastic recycling technologies, as well as a technical critique of a JRC study that uses Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to compare environmental impacts of plastic recycling technologies. Based on this critique, recommendations are provided for decision makers as to the value of the JRC study’s findings.
Continue readingAgainst a backdrop of political shifts, competing interests, and the stark realities of a changing climate, 2024 was challenging in many ways – but still a year full of important milestones and steps forward for ambitious environmental protection.
Continue readingNational and local governments could slash record levels of packaging waste if they follow this roadmap. By the Rethink Plastic alliance with Break Free From Plastic, Zero Waste Europe, ClientEarth Europe, Environmental Coalition on Standards, Fair Resource Foundation, and the European Environmental Bureau.
Continue readingThe textiles industry is too big to be sustainable. In our report we unpick the unsustainable and unfair status quo and reimagine a sector that uses fewer resources but promotes more creativity and collaboration, ensuring dignity and social justice for all.
Continue readingThe revision of the New legislative Framework underpins mandatory product requirements through harmonised standards. It should aim at improving the overall EU product framework, adapting it to the current environmental and market challenges of new products and businesses, thereby supporting the implementation of environmental legislation.
Continue readingECOS has reviewed the European Commission’s proposal for a directive and a regulation as regards the digitalisation and alignment of common specifications. In our feedback we outline our position on the specific provisions related to the Common Specification.
Continue readingThe EU needs to overhaul e-waste rules so that they effectively recover valuable resources from electronic equipment, as well as prevent, mitigate, and reverse the environmental harm caused by resource consumption and electronic waste. European standards, once revised and made legally binding, can offer detailed guidance for meeting minimum requirements for sustainable, circular e-waste recovery
Continue readingA lack of legal guidelines and harmonised standards for reusable packaging has created a fragmented landscape. Systems are not interoperable and businesses are left grappling with uncertainty and struggling to compete with single-use alternatives. Minimum durability requirements and European harmonised standards for testing, measurements, and calculations would ensure that the EU's new packaging rules are robust, effective, and truly transformative.
Continue readingIn our response to the call for evidence on the revision of the EU's Standardisation Regulation, ECOS provides valuable insight on the main challenges within the European Standardisation System, both directly experienced as a stakeholder and those identified in the EC’s evaluation report. We also propose improvements to address these challenges.
Continue readingBuy Better to Build Better welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback and targeted evidence over the importance of effectively designing the upcoming Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act.
Continue readingEurope's competitiveness in the global bioeconomy must be realistic about resource constraints and driven by strategic innovation. The bioeconomy is a cornerstone of the EU's future socio-economic prosperity, but the scale and sustainability of this transition will rely on our ability to operate within planetary boundaries.
Continue readingWe've published new guidance on how to make electric vehicle chargers more reliable. With different options out there to help support the growing need for charging stations, what is the best way to manage these large networks? How can different types of charging stations be compatible and smart? Read the details here.
Continue readingThe EU's Circular Economy Act must go beyond incremental change and fully embed circular economy principles in Europe’s entire economic system. In our joint letter to Commission leaders, we emphasise the importance of science-based targets on resource use, keeping products and components in use, and safe material circulation. A truly effective Circular Economy Act will enable Europe to enhance long-term competitiveness, ensure strategic resilience as well as reach carbon neutrality and restore nature.
Continue readingThe European Commission's proposed mass balance accounting methodology for calculating recycled plastic content does not align with the goals of the Single-Use Plastic Directive (SUPD) to ensure the circular use of plastics. We need a trustworthy, transparent and clear methodology, in line with the EU circular economy and competitiveness agenda, that will support of an actual reduction of virgin plastic use and respect the level playing field between different recycling technologies.
Continue readingOver 30 civil society organisations and businesses urge EU Member States to maintain strong support for the Green Claims Directive (GCD).
Continue readingIn a joint letter, we express concerns regarding the so-called Sixth Omnibus on chemicals. This proposal does not serve its alleged aim to enhance competitiveness without compromising a high level of protection. Instead it signals regulatory instability that will ultimately weaken EU industry - by harming investor confidence and penalising companies that have invested in compliance.
Continue readingECOS has co-signed a letter with other global civil society organisations, labour organisations, investors, and businesses calling for no further weakening of the EU Batteries Regulation Due Diligence Rules as part of the Omnibus IV proposal.
Continue readingECOS is among the many voices urging the EU to deliver a truly domestic and ambitious 2040 climate target. Read our open letter - signed alongside a broad coalition of civil society organisations, academics, and businesses - against integrating international credits into the EU 2040 climate target and NDC.
Continue reading30 civil society organisations - including ECOS - have signed this open letter with a shared vision of achieving a decarbonised global steel industry as part of a thriving zero emissions society.
Continue readingAlongside many other organisations and networks, we call on the UN Secretary General to establish the promised multi stakeholder High Level Expert Advisory Group (HLEAG) to carry forward the UN's work on critical energy transition materials.
Continue readingECOS 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.