OCTOBER 2025

Dear ECOS subscriber,

This month we marked World Standards Day – a day to recognise and celebrate the collaborative efforts of thousands of experts worldwide who develop standards. We also participated in important discussions on e-waste with our partners in Africa to mark International E-waste Day.

This month we also celebrate the EU’s new Soil Monitoring Law, and take a look at opportunities to address environmental and social aspects together in the European Affordable Housing Plan.

All this and more – plus usual updates from the international ECOS network in our October newsletter.

Standards need to work for everyone – here’s how we do it

World Standards Day this year focused on the power of partnership and the impact of working together. The development of standards can enable meaningful collaboration between industries, governments, and civil society, but a lack of representation of diverse and relevant expertise from civil society organisations risks the adoption of standards which may not be fit for purpose.

European Parliament seals the deal of first-ever EU law on soils

After months of negotiations, EU lawmakers listened to citizens and science and rubber stamped the deal on the Soil Monitoring Law this month, the EU’s first ever law on soil health. Despite severe shortcomings of the endorsed text, this is an important milestone towards addressing Europe’s crisis of soil degradation. Its success will depend on impactful implementation.

Building a European Affordable Housing Plan with what we have

Europe is facing a double challenge: reaching energy, climate, and circularity goals while also ensuring affordable, accessible, and healthy housing. Too often, these two challenges are put against one another, but the upcoming European Affordable Housing Plan (EAHP) should take advantage of how environmental and social aspects can work together.

Watch | Packaging minimisation, refill, and reuse standards

Watch the recording from our recent workshop, where we discussed the standardisation process, best practices, and recent developments for solutions for packaging minimisation, refill, and reuse, in the context of the EU’s new packaging rules.

Litigation risks mount for companies across plastics supply chain

Following legal complaints against plastic water bottle manufacturers that ECOS has supported over the past years - Sustainable Views from The Financial Times reports that inaccurate or misleading claims about the recyclability of plastics poses litigation and regulatory risks for companies.

Civil society raises concern over possible changes to tracking hazardous substances

ENDS Europe reports on our joint letter urging EU leaders to uphold the commitment to chemical transparency and traceability. We brought together over 40 concerned waste management, industry, and civil society organisations who want mandatory reporting on substances of concern to help to ensure a transparent and competitive economy.

E-waste is a huge, and growing problem, with unique challenges for Africa. We need global collaboration to slow the flow of e-waste. At the 5th Africa International E-Waste Conference in Mombasa, Kenya - we joined policymakers, industry leaders, and innovators working to address the global e-waste crisis. We discussed how to adapt to global e-waste trends, sustainable and scalable e-waste solutions, and building a circular e-waste economy in Africa and beyond.

We are happy to continue engaging with our long-standing partners National Environment Management Authority - Kenya and David Ongare on tackling e-waste as a key concern for environmental management.

• Ensuring a system that disincentivises nature destruction
• Detecting endocrine disrupting chemicals in products
• The urgent need to adopt the EU Soil Monitoring Law
• NGO response to Finland and Sweden’s comments on EU forestry rules
• A global call for equity in mineral value chains at COP30
• Beyond waste management – EPR to finance circularity
• A moratorium on new waste incineration in the EU
• No room for fossil fuel developers in sustainable finance categories
• Tracking substances of concern is vital for sustainability and competitiveness
• Bringing Europe’s soils back to health

Work with us

Membership & Events Officer

Deadline: 11 November 2025

Are you looking for a meaningful career opportunity in a dynamic and influential NGO? Join our passionate team and help make a positive impact on shaping international rules to protect the planet! We are looking for a highly motivated Membership & Events Officer to join our Communication & Membership team, starting January 2026, for a one-year contract.

Proposing a PFAS ban in Belgium

Following a successful campaign from Belgian civil society organisations, our members Bond Beter Leefmilieu and Canopea met with the Belgian Minister for the Environment to present a petition of nearly 30,000 signatures supporting a federal law to ban PFAS.

A prescription for change: Rethinking plastics use in healthcare

The healthcare sector’s dependence on single-use plastics is driving up costs, waste, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across Europe and North America – but a new report from our member Health Care Without Harm shows that proven solutions can deliver dramatic reductions.

Rethink Plastic alliance welcomes plastic pellet regulation

Plastic pellet pollution is a daily reality for citizens across Europe writes Rethink Plastic alliance. After two years of negotiations, the Regulation on preventing pellet losses to reduce microplastic pollution has finally been formally approved by the European Parliament.

IEC AFRC 10 years celebration

4 November – Nairobi, Kenya

At this special 10 year event, hosted by the Kenya Bureau of Standards, the IEC, and the Kenya National Committee of IEC – ECOS Senior Programme Manager Marxine Waite will be speak on a panel exploring how standards can support access to electricity and support a clean energy transition.

Cooking up change: From missed opportunity to full building decarbonisation

6 November – Brussels, Belgium

If you’re attending this CLASP event on cooking, don’t miss ECOS Programme Director Valeria Botta in the afternoon panel session – where she will discuss the importance of electrifying cooking for both health and environment, and which EU policies can help incentivise and accelerate this transition.

Plenary of the industrial symbiosis standardisation roadmap working groups

12 November - Brussels, Belgium/Online

Come and say hello to ECOS Programme Director, Valeria Botta, who will give a keynote address - the EU policy outlook on circularity and waste, with particular emphasis on the opportunities of an EU Circular Economy Act to reduce Europe’s material footprint.

Civil society perspectives on smart charging standards

20 November - Brussels, Belgium

If you’re attending the V2G Leaders Europe conference - drop by session three, where Senior Programme Manager Luka De Bruyckere will discuss civil society contributions to smart charging standards, coordination and consistency across different standardisation activities, and how we can leverage open source communities.

Green electricity systems and beyond: From climate goals to systemic resilience

24 November – Brussels, Belgium/Online

If you’re attending this CEN/CENELEC stakeholder workshop, don’t miss Senior Programme Manager Luka De Bruyckere, who will present the evolution of work in the Smart Energy Expert Group and Data4Energy working group, setting up a framework to share data