JANUARY 2026

Dear ECOS subscriber,

Standards can have a great impact on our societies and our environment; therefore including civil society organisations with environmental expertise throughout the standards-making process can help to build stronger standards that work for society.

In our Work Programme for 2026 we lay out our priorities for a year that will not only be full of important milestones for ambitious environmental goals - we also celebrate 25 years of ECOS! Stay tuned throughout the year as we celebrate this anniversary.

In this edition of the ECOS newsletter, we also take a look back at our successes last year and share a number of calls for experts - plus the usual updates from across the international ECOS network.

An inclusive approach to European standards-making

Standards are more than just a market tool, they directly impact people and the environment. Which means an inclusive, multi-stakeholder approach that involves environmental stakeholders is essential for shaping European standards that support a circular, sustainable, resilient, and competitive economy.

Making electrification work

The EU has to move away from fossil fuels for its security, resilience, and sustainability. Electrification is a vital tool to make this happen. However, over half the electricity mix in the EU still comes from non-renewable sources, so while electrification is essential, it is not the end of the story.

ECOS priorities for 2026

As the only environmental NGO systematically present at the table where standards are developed, ECOS is perfectly placed to drive, define, and assess how to drastically improve the environmental sustainability of key sectors and products. Learn more in our Work Programme for 2026.

Our impact in 2025

We made a big impact last year – among others, working towards making ecodesign a success in Europe, expanding the work of our Africa office, helping to secure an EU new soil law, and driving a 2030 vision for green public procurement... Celebrate these successes and more!

We will continue to develop the ECOS Africa office this year, further building our network of partnerships and collaboration across the continent, and engaging with more environmental experts, environmental NGOs, as well as National and Regional Standards Bodies. Interested? Get in touch

We are already working with partners to decarbonise construction in Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa by focusing on policies and standards for low carbon construction materials, e.g. steel, cement, and concrete - as well as employing green public procurement to promote the uptake of low carbon construction products. Do you want to contribute? Take a look at our call for experts.

ECOS Senior Programme Manager Margaux Le Gallou spoke to The Guardian about misleading approaches used to calculate recycled content in plastic packaging. Plastic packaging described as sustainable often only contains a fraction of material truly recovered from waste.

• Common charging plug for electric bicycles

• Greenhouse Gas Protocol Scope 2 guidance
• Pallet wrappings and straps: Exemption from PPWR reuse targets

Get involved with ECOS

Calls for tenders – Coaching and leadership training

ECOS has two open calls for tenders for tailored coaching and leadership training for our senior management teams. The training should entail a mix of theoretical learning and concrete practices. We invite providers to submit proposals for one or both by 22 February 2026.

Join the ECOS Board!

ECOS invites suitably qualified candidates to submit their interest in supporting ECOS governance and contributing to our strategic direction. This is a unique opportunity for an experienced leader to play a key role in guiding our vision and mission and to drive positive environmental impact while navigating a complex and evolving geopolitical landscape. Apply before 28 February.

Calls for experts 📢

Public procurement

We are seeking experts in public procurement to support our work on the upcoming revision of the European public procurement framework.

Deadline: 13 February

PFAS in soil and biosolids

Candidates should be able to demonstrate in-depth technical and scientific knowledge on methodologies for PFAS detection and analysis in soils and other biosolids.

Deadline: 15 February

Bioeconomy and nature

We are seeking experts in fields related to bioeconomy and nature, such as forestry or agriculture – including food/feed, bioenergy, or biomaterials.

Deadline: 15 February

Low-carbon cement and concrete

ECOS is looking for experts to help secure an ambitious and effective decarbonisation pathway for cement and concrete value chains in Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa.

Deadline: 18 February

Toxic tour reveals life near oil and gas developments

With their new “Toxic Tours”, Earthworks (USA) exposes the environmental and health risks of oil and gas factories on local communities. The tours visit oil and gas well sites near homes schools, and on lands adjacent to tribal jurisdiction.

Petition - No bottom trawling in the Wadden Sea!

Deutsche Umwelthilfe (Germany), are petitioning the German government to stop bottom trawling in the North Sea, which is destroying vital habitats - even within marine protected areas. Allowing this destruction to continue in explicitly protected areas violates EU law. You can add your signature here [DE].

Waiving Waste Management Fee rewards worse recycling performance.

Zero (Portugal) reports that proposals to waive the Tax on Waste Management would reward the worst-performing municipalities and weakens the economic incentive of the circular economy [PT]. It will also undermine national targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, compromising climate policies.

European Commission embraces problematic “chemical recycling” technologies

The Rethink Plastic Alliance is deeply concerned by the European Commission’s decision to allow the use of problematic, so-called ‘chemical recycling’ to achieve the EU’s recycling targets. The first full recognition of ‘chemical recycling’ can set a dangerous precedent for future legislation.