DECEMBER 2025

Dear ECOS subscriber,

As we share our final newsletter of the year, I would like to thank you, our supporters, and all of the ECOS network – our members, our partners, our staff, our experts, our funders, and our Executive Committee - for your tireless work and support in 2025.

We faced a more challenging political climate this year, with increasing challenges to multilateralism and moves in the EU to dismantle important environmental protections that support our health, our economy, and our well-being. This has made our successes more meaningful and our mission more vital, as we work to build healthy and clean environments, protected by robust rules that respect nature and its resources.

Justin Wilkes

Executive Director

We secured many victories this year from mainstreaming ecodesign, to highlighting the importance of green public procurement, to impactful work on material efficiency standards – look out for more in our success stories and annual report, which we will release early in 2026. Closing the year on a high note, just last week, we contributed to the very first UN resolution on tackling the environmental impacts of AI – an important step towards addressing what has rapidly turned into one of the biggest environmental challenges of our time.

I wish you a peaceful and restful end to the year and I look forward to working with you again more closely next year.

As this final newsletter highlights, 2025 is not quite yet over, and we still have news to share. We’ve provided our expert insight to the European Commission’s public consultation on the European Standardisation Regulation and published a new factsheet on Environmental Attribute Certificates for steel (and how to ensure the right calculation methods are used). This month we also wrote about the benefits of energy labelling and had an interview with the European Commission’s DG ENV discussing how public procurement can accelerate a sustainable and competitive construction sector.

All this and more - plus the usual updates from across our international network as well as a new vacancy and calls for experts.

Justin Wilkes

Executive Director - Environmental Coalition on Standards

EU Standardisation Regulation – ECOS response to public consultation

The EU Standardisation Regulation legally recognises the importance of input from civil society organisations - but they still face barriers to meaningful participation. Reinforcing the obligation for inclusiveness will ensure that harmonised standards are developed with the effective participation of civil society, so that they can truly meet the needs of policy, markets, and society across the EU and beyond.

Trade low-carbon steel, not credits

Steel is among the most traded commodities and is also responsible for 7% of greenhouse gas emissions globally. Decarbonising steel production must be a global priority. Our latest factsheet explains how credible and accurate Environmental Attribute Certificates can achieve real steel decarbonisation.

How the EU energy label can help consumers continue to save energy and money

Improving energy efficiency is one of the most effective tools the EU has to cut energy use, reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels, and lower household bills for consumers. With BEUC and ANEC we write about the EU’s energy label and how some key changes can continue this success story and deliver even greater benefits.

Public Procurement for a sustainable and competitive construction sector

How can public procurement accelerate a sustainable and competitive construction sector? ECOS Programme Manager, Tudor Cherhat spoke to The EU Directorate-General for Environment (DG ENV) and shared perspectives from the Buy Better to Build Better coalition of over 30 organisations from industry, civil society, and public bodies.

• Rebuilding trust, restoring ambition: Expectations for the next INC chair

• Comparative assessment of packaging reuse and standards

• Responses to SBTi Corporate Net Zero Standard: Second public consultation

Get involved with ECOS

Vacancies

Programme Manager – Petrochemicals

We are looking for a highly motivated Programme Manager to work on industry decarbonisation, with a special focus on the petrochemical industry. The successful candidate will report to the Head of the Buildings & Industry team.

Deadline: 04 January 2026

Apply today >>

Calls for experts

Ecodesign, electronics, and horizontal material efficiency

ECOS is looking for ecodesign experts in electronics and ICT products to represent and defend environmental interests in the development of standards and related policies.

Deadline: 04 January 2026

Apply today >>

PFAS in soil and biosolids

ECOS is looking for experts in the field of PFAS detection, analysis and reduction in soils and biosolids to represent and defend environmental interests in the development of standards and related policies. 

Deadline: 15 January 2026

Apply today >>

Feminist Climate Action Fund – Call for proposals

The deadline is approaching for Funding Fairer Futures - an initiative from ECOS member Women Engage for a Common Future (WECF), to build capacity for an inclusive, just transformation. Apply by 26 January 2026 for grants of €5,000 to carry out actions that will contribute to strengthening the climate movement.

Customers pay the bill for McDonald’s pollution

Hospitality in The Netherlands is required to serve food and drink on-site in reusable packaging but Fair Resource Foundation reports that McDonald’s Netherlands has not been compliant with this law - not only wasting resources, but also charging customers extra for single-use packaging.

Europe must stop squandering the power of its purse

Strategic procurement is one of the few measures that can strengthen businesses, reduce emissions, protect public health, and promote economic growth. Joren Verschaeve, Coordinator of the Alliance for Low-Carbon Cement and Concrete has written a new Op-Ed calling on the EU to urgently unlock these benefits.