19 March 202414 March 2024 EU Parliament approves proposal to reduce textile and food waste The European Parliament on Wednesday (13 March) backed targets for the prevention and reduction of food and textile waste across the bloc. However, environmental NGOs have criticised the proposal’s lack of ambition
13 March 20248 March 2024 Packaging: Council and Parliament strike a deal to make packaging more sustainable and reduce packaging waste in the EU The proposal establishes requirements to ensure that packaging is safe and sustainable, by requiring that all packaging is recyclable and that the presence of substances of concern is minimised
12 March 20247 March 2024 Commission welcomes political agreement on EU-wide certification scheme for carbon removals A new framework will help the EU to reach climate neutrality by certifying carbon removals and carbon farming to ensure that they are transparent and trusted, preventing greenwashing and creating new business opportunities
5 March 202429 February 2024 Major Success for CCU: The Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA) Fully Recognises CO₂ Utilisation as a Net Zero Technology The CCU community in Europe welcomes the inclusion of Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) as a net zero technology and as an eligible strategic technology under the recently agreed upon Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA)
26 February 202421 February 2024 Legal assessment on the EU packaging regulation PPWR: Special rules for plastic packaging not compatible with EU law According to a new report by the international law firm Dentons the European Commission laws discriminate with a high probability against plastic packaging
Sonderregeln für Kunststoffverpackungen nicht mit EU-Recht vereinbar Rechtsgutachten zur EU-Verpackungsverordnung PPWR
29 January 202424 January 2024 Carbon pricing for agriculture key to cutting emissions, say EU climate advisers Current policies are not a sufficient incentive for farmers to do more to achieve the EU climate targets, according to the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change (ESABCC) experts, who warned of the need for a carbon pricing system for the sector
24 January 202418 January 2024 European Parliament heads for tight vote on plant gene editing The European Parliament heads for tight vote on the proposal for new rules for innovative types of gene-edited plants, which currently fall under the more restrictive genetically modified organisms (GMO) framework
23 January 202423 January 2024 Greenwashing – No, thanks! Workshop 7 February 2024: The Green Claims Directive on the rise – Everything companies need to know
9 January 20242 January 2024 Nachhaltige Produkte sollen zur neuen Norm in der EU werden Das neue Gesetz wird auf der bestehenden Ökodesign-Richtlinie aufbauen, die seit fast 20 Jahren erfolgreich zur Verbesserung der Energieeffizienz von Produkten in der EU geführt hat
Time for a European Shift on Renewable Ethanol There is also growing interest in using ethanol as a feedstock in the biopolymers industry, which are essential if the EU wants to achieve its goals for climate change mitigation, food security and energy independence
Packaging and packaging waste: Council adopts its negotiating position on new rules for more sustainable packaging in the EU The aim is to tackle the increase in packaging waste generated in the EU, while harmonising the internal market for packaging and boosting the circular economy
Verpackungen und Verpackungsabfälle: Rat legt Verhandlungsposition zu neuen Vorschriften für nachhaltigere Verpackungen in der EU fest Dem Anstieg des Aufkommens an Verpackungsabfällen in der EU soll gegengesteuert und gleichzeitig der Binnenmarkt für Verpackungen harmonisiert und die Kreislaufwirtschaft angeschoben werden
EU Policy: Finland and Italy seek to hinder restrictions on single-use packaging Two EU nations threaten to weaken reuse and waste targets ahead of next week's gathering of EU ministers in Brussels
Environment Ministers failed to acknowledge the value of biobased and compostable plastics’ innovation for packaging solutions European Bioplastics reacts to the General Approach adopted by the Environment Council on the proposal for a Regulation on Packaging and Packaging Waste
13 December 202315 December 2023 No Greenwashing, please! Key Take Aways from the Green Claims Directive for Communications and Marketing
A position for the wrong century: European Parliament’s vote on the PPWR Though waste prevention targets were preserved at 5% by 2030, 10% by 2035, and 15% by 2040, the watered-down text excluded crucial mechanisms needed to actually reach the environmental targets
EP plenary vote on PPWR advances circularity, but fails to correct priority access and using bio-based plastics in recycled content targets The endorsement of AM 138, which allows bio-based plastic feedstock to count towards up to 50% of recycled content targets, undermines the effectiveness of recycling efforts and favours petroleum-based plastics
Plenary vote on PPWR shows us the way forward As EU Member States prepare to adopt their common position on 18th December, EPPA urges them to acknowledge the European Parliament’s strong majority in favour of this constructive compromise text
12 December 202312 December 2023 The proposed Green Claims Directive – Targeting Market Transparency for a Green Transition in Europe Impacts for all market players
How to be green – What is a valid scientific proof for environmental claims? Many things on the GCD proposal are not yet specified, but companies can prepare.
11 December 20238 December 2023 European Parliament sends mixed signals to the bioplastics sector European Bioplastics reacts to European Parliament’s vote on the proposal for a Regulation on Packaging and Packaging Waste
Parliament votes to water down EU’s packaging waste law The European Parliament adopted its position Wednesday (22 November) on legislation to reduce packaging waste, weakening some key measures on the table following a tense debate on the role of reuse, recycling and bans
5 December 202329 November 2023 Carbon removals: Parliament wants EU certification scheme to boost uptake European Parliament adopts position on certifying carbon removals as certification will help attract private investment to climate removal projects
27 November 202322 November 2023 Forests, nature and carbon removals in Europe The European Union wants to slash its greenhouse gas emissions but also boost the amount of carbon it removes from the atmosphere in order to prevent drastic global warming – and healthy forests have a big part to play in this
2 November 202330 October 2023 Hersteller von Kunststoffverpackungen warnen: Sonderregeln für Plastik sind ökologischer Irrweg! Die Kritik richtet sich vor allem gegen Vorschläge der Berichterstatterin Frédérique Ries für Sonder-Reduktionsziele für Kunststoffverpackungen, Ausnahmen für Verbundverpackungen, sowie Verbote von Einwegverpackungen und Mehrwegquoten, die Ausnahmen für Verpackungen aus Wellpappe vorsehen
24 October 202317 October 2023 Verpackungsgesetz: EU ringt um Definition von „hochwertigem“ Recycling Umweltorganisationen warnen vor dem Downcycling hochwertiger Materialien zu minderwertigen Produkten, da Papier zur größten Abfallquelle in der EU werden könnte
Definition of ‘high-quality’ recycling takes centre stage in EU packaging law Environmental groups warn against downcycling high-quality materials into lower-quality products, saying paper risks becoming the largest source of packaging waste in the EU
17 October 202316 October 2023 PPWR food & beverage packaging bans: are they sustainable? A critical review on the most controversial measures
13 October 202311 October 2023 Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) should be recognised as a strategic net zero technology in the EU Net Zero Industry Act CCU technologies will enable the supply of renewable fuels and other alternative sources of energy, as well as commercial products such as plastics, concrete, and reactants for chemical synthesis
10 October 202310 October 2023 Spinning a sustainable fashion revolution: meet the physicists turning wood into clothes How Spinnova today transforms cellulose from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified wood into textile fibre without using any chemicals
4 October 20232 October 2023 EU reaches deal banning ‘climate-neutral’ product claims In the wake of longstanding complaints of greenwashing by consumer advocates, EU institutions finalised a new law on Tuesday (19 September) enacting a sweeping ban to combat the misleading of its citizens through erroneous claims of sustainability
EU verbietet Greenwashing von Produkten Nach lang anhaltenden Beschwerden von Verbraucherschützern über sogenanntes „Greenwashing“ haben die EU-Institutionen am Dienstag (19. September) ein neues Gesetz verabschiedet. Es sieht ein umfassendes Verbot Produktversprechen über „Klimaneutralität“ vor, um die EU-Bürger vor Irreführungen zu schützen
27 September 202325 September 2023 Industrial carbon capture: Only for truly ‘unavoidable emissions’ Upcoming EU legislation should limit industrial carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology to truly unavoidable emissions, write Leon de Graaf, Dominika Floriánová, Antoine Grall and Ella Oksala
26 September 202321 September 2023 MEPs approve SAF mandate, limit eligible feedstocks The ReFuelEU initiative is part of the Fit for 55 package, which is the European Union’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 55 percent by 2030
25 September 202320 September 2023 5 major benefits of joining the circular economy model A circular economy highlights the importance of repairing and reusing what we consume, implementing recycling and organic recycling
70% of jet fuels at EU airports will have to be green by 2050 The European Commission seek to encourage the aviation sector to use sustainable aviation fuels in order to cut emissions
21 September 202318 September 2023 Parliament raises recycling goals in EU Critical Raw Materials Act The EU will aim to recycle at least 45% of each “Strategic Raw Material” contained in the Union’s waste under plans voted on by the European Parliament’s industry committee on Thursday (7 September)
4 September 202331 August 2023 European Green Deal: more sustainable use of plant and soil natural resources The Commission adopted a package of measures for a sustainable use of key natural resources, which will also strengthen the resilience of EU food systems and farming
28 August 202324 August 2023 One year on, Europe is still missing a business case for industrial decarbonisation The US Inflation Reduction Act is one year old today. Its first 90 days were enough for the US to overtake the EU’s second-place spot in producing cleantech
22 May 202316 May 2023 McDonald’s Leads Lobbying Offensive Against Laws to Reduce Packaging Waste in Europe Flawed assumptions and a “disturbing” lack of transparency characterise an industry campaign against reusable packaging, academics and campaigners warn
17 May 202316 May 2023 Bio-based content, compostable plastics, and chemical recycling – many opportunities for more innovation and sustainability in the new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) The Renewable Carbon Initiative’s position paper highlights chances for the EU to lead the way to a sustainable packaging industry and to promote innovation
Biobasierte Inhaltsstoffe, kompostierbare Kunststoffe und chemisches Recycling – viele Chancen für mehr Innovation und Nachhaltigkeit in der neuen Verordnung über Verpackungen und Verpackungsabfälle (PPWR) Das Positionspapier der Renewable Carbon Initiative zeigt Möglichkeiten auf, wie die EU den Weg für eine nachhaltige Verpackungsindustrie ebnen und Innovationen fördern kann
25 April 202324 April 2023 Reform des europäischen Emissionshandels: Parlament stimmt mit Ja Das Europäische Parlament hat am Dienstag (18. April) weitreichende Reformen beschlossen, um die europäische Klimapolitik ehrgeiziger zu gestalten. Der EU-ETS wird reformiert, CO2 auszustoßen wird damit immer teurer
Parliament backs EU carbon market overhaul, world’s first CO₂ tariff Europe’s carbon market forces power plants and factories to buy CO2 permits when they pollute. It has slashed those sectors’ emissions by 43% since 2005 but is facing a revamp to hit more ambitious EU climate change targets
19 April 202319 April 2023 EU-Verpackungsregeln: Linke-Koalition will Abfallvermeidung priorisieren Die Priorisierung der umweltfreundlichsten Wege im Umgang mit Abfall, beginnend mit der Vermeidung und Wiederverwendung, sollte im Mittelpunkt des neuen EU-Verpackungsgesetzes stehen, fordern die zuständigen Europaabgeordneten
Left-wing lawmakers to prioritise waste prevention in new EU packaging law Prioritising the most environmentally-friendly ways of dealing with waste, starting with prevention and reuse, should be central to Europe’s new packaging law, lawmakers working on the file told EURACTIV
6 April 20235 April 2023 EU exports of used textiles in Europe’s circular economy The common public perception of used clothing donations as generous gifts to people in need does not fully match reality
28 March 202328 March 2023 Carbon farming law only ‘first step’ in negative emissions push The EU executive’s proposed legislation on carbon sinks is only the first step in a broader effort to certify negative emissions in agriculture, as well as remunerate and potentially trade them, according to a Commission official
EU-Gesetz zu Carbon Farming nur ‚erster Schritt‘ hin zu CO₂-Senken Die von der EU-Kommission vorgeschlagene Verordnung zu CO2-Senken ist laut einem Kommissionsbeamten lediglich der erste Schritt hin zu dem Ziel, negative Emissionen in der Landwirtschaft zu zertifizieren, zu vergüten und möglicherweise auch zu handeln