ECOS | Environmental Coalition on Standards

Tag: waste

  • New report unwraps solutions for EU countries to end the packaging waste crisis

    Press release | Member States must step up efforts to ensure the EU meets its packaging waste goals, says the NGO group Rethink Plastic alliance. A new report reveals how national and local governments can make the most of the opportunities provided by the EU’s new packaging rules.

  • How EU Member States can slash waste when implementing new packaging rules

    National 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.

  • Joint letter on outdated EU Extractive Waste Directive

    ECOS co-signed a letter to EU Commissioner Roswall highlighting the need to review the outdated EU Extractive Waste Directive, and to bring it in line with global best practice.

  • Reusable packaging could be the superhero of sustainability – but the European Parliament yielded to throwaway culture

    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.

  • Plastic pollution knows no boundaries – international efforts are needed

    A UN Global Treaty to End Plastic Pollution could be an essential piece of the puzzle to reach the 2030 sustainable development goals – but success is not guaranteed. ECOS is contributing to the treaty decision-making process as an official observer, advocating for high ambition and the integration of ambitious standards that protect the environment.

  • Joint Briefing – Beyond Recycling: Reckoning with Plastics in a Circular Economy

    ECOS and CIEL have published a brief that explains policies and technical processes that require the continuation and expansion of plastics production - cannot be labeled circular, and should not be considered solutions to the global plastics crisis.

  • Reuse and recycle by default – New EU packaging rules must end single-use

    On 30 November, as part of its Circular Economy Action Plan, the European Commission will take a step towards improving the sustainability of packaging and wider product distribution systems – or not.

  • New Joint Paper – Why we need waste prevention targets now

    ECOS has joined other NGOs and representatives of waste treatment operators to create this joint paper, which shows the lack of effectiveness of existing waste prevention policies. We need European level quantitative waste prevention targets, as well as effective national measures. This joint position paper also highlights manufacturers’ role in reducing resource use and the size of the circular economy loop. Lastly, it offers some clarity on the differences between waste prevention and recycling, emphasising that recycling is lower in the European waste hierarchy than prevention.

  • The million-euro question: do bioplastics truly ensure environmental benefits?

    Bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics are currently under the European Commission’s spotlight. Whether or not they actually bring genuine environmental benefits is the question the Commission is trying to answer with several important policy measures that are meant to regulate bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics (or BBP/BDCP for short).

  • Highlights of ECOS recommendations on ELV Directive revision

    Ahead of the European Commission's review proposal at the end of 2022, we have selected eight key highlights of ECOS recommendations for the revision of the End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) Directive and the corresponding Directive on 3R type-approval.

ECOS 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.

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