MARCH 2026

Dear ECOS subscriber,

This month we unpack the EU’s packaging regulations with expert insight on the important role standards will play. We also take a look at the potential of the upcoming EU Digital Product Passport and how the Public Procurement Directives could decarbonise heavy industry. We also published our annual report for 2025 – take a look!

Also in this edition, we share news from our ECOS Africa office – we’ve launched a new project in Kenya to the green the ICT value-chain. There are also plenty of opportunities to meet with the ECOS team coming up - sign up now for our webinars in April and check the conference schedule for ECOS colleagues below, as well the usual updates from our international network of members and partners.

ECOS Annual report 2025

In 2025, we worked to highlight that environmental ambition is an effective stepping stone for long-term competitiveness. A green industrial transformation can help in this journey if and only if it also safeguards natural resources, biodiversity, social justice, and environmental health.

Everything you need to know about the Digital Product Passport

There is a lot of anticipation about what the EU's Digital Product Passport (DPP) can do - but what do the laws currently say? Learn more about the DPP and how it can truly support the EU’s environmental objectives.

A deep-dive into the Public Procurement Directives

The EU’s Public Procurement Directives will be revised over the next few years. Often hailed as a potential enabler for the decarbonisation of Europe's heavy industry, public procurement is high up on the EU's agenda. This explainer is here to unpack all you need to know about the Directives.

Unpacking the EU’s packaging regulations

Implementing the EU’s packaging rules (PPWR), now depend on technical rules and harmonised European standards. We provide an overview of the PPWR's upcoming milestones and targets on packaging minimisation, reuse, and refill - as well as key insights from experts on these three pillars of standardisation.

Delving into green ICT in Kenya

The ECOS Africa office is implementing a new project in Kenya to increase awareness of the environmental implications of the ICT value-chain and to facilitate knowledge exchanges between Europe and Africa. This initiative will promote green digitalisation and share EU ICT product standardisation and policy insights; it forms part of the larger InDiCo-Global Initiative, and will also create opportunities for regional and continental collaboration to replicate project successes.

UN Geneva-based body hits brakes on tyre microplastics pollution

The UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) adopted a new test method to measure and limit tyre abrasion, part of the Euro 7 vehicle emissions standards. Senior Programme Manager Emily Best spoke to Geneva Solutions to underline its importance for tackling microplastics and explain how chemical pollution from tyres still needs to be addressed.

Industrial Accelerator Act: Too little momentum for the transformation

Senior Programme Manager, Federica Pozzi, told Table Briefings that while the general direction of the Industrial Acceleration Act has been praised, the overall impetus for transformation in Europe is too weak [DE].

- Read the full reaction in our press release.

16 April 2026

Decoding the Industrial Accelerator Act

The Industrial Accelerator Act proposal has been published. Its impact on concrete and steel and their public procurement for construction and infrastructure projects across Europe will be substantial — for better or for worse. How can the EU ensure the ambition of the IAA is up to mark in achieving its main objective of increasing public demand for low-carbon materials?

Co-hosted by ECOS and Climate Group, this webinar will provide in-depth expertise on the Industrial Accelerator Act, particularly its implications for industrial decarbonisation.

Interested in joining? Reach out to katarzyna.krok@ecostandard.org

Don't forget to join us on 14 April as our experts unpack the European Commission’s proposed ‘EU Product Act’ and discuss how this framework could ensure coherence and consistency in EU product policy and help to build a competitive and future-proof Single Market that is fit for circular economy and the digital transition.

• Joint call for an ambitious Digital Fairness Act

• Upholding the integrity of the EU ETS – a civil society letter to EU leaders
• Ensuring an ambitious implementation of ETS2
• Ambition needed in Euro 7 abrasion test methods
• How the European packaging minimisation standard can fit EU regulation

Get involved with ECOS

Call for Experts - Bioeconomy and nature

We are seeking experts in bioeconomy and nature topics, such as forestry or agriculture – including food/feed, bioenergy, or biomaterials. Interested candidates should demonstrate in-depth knowledge in ecological management practices or environmental assessment tools.

Empowering Consumers: Towards a Market of Evidence

14 April - Online

ECOS Senior Programme Managers Margaux Le Gallou and Mathieu Rama will speaking in a webinar organised by our member Ethikis to discuss EU legislation that will help push more sustainable production methods and support the disclosure of environmental data [FR].

Storms expose climate costs: Europe must finance fair adaptation

ZERO (Portugal) advocates for the creation of a European Adaptation Fund for Climate Change [PT]. With less than 2% of the EU27's GDP, Portugal could face adaptation costs this year exceeding 10% of the average annual climate damage in the European Union. Climate justice requires increased funding that takes into account those most vulnerable today.

A Circular Economy Act for Austria

Four Earths would be needed to cover Austria's resource consumption – "business as usual" is not an option. While political solutions are lacking, Global 2000 is taking concrete action with a detailed draft circular economy law [DE] - providing a clear proposal for how Austria can move away from a throwaway society.

Rethink Plastic provides feedback on the evaluation of the Single-Use Plastics Directive

The priority for the Rethink Plastic alliance is to ensure that the evaluation of the Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD) further reinforces - rather than undermines - the ongoing environmental objectives and pollution-prevention measures. At this stage, a broad revision would be premature, as more time is needed to gather consolidated, harmonised, and comparable implementation data across Member States.

Greenwashing: The countdown has begun. Are you ready for the ECGT?

13 April - Online

Senior Programme Manager Margaux Le Gallou, will speak about the European context of the Empowering Consumers in the Green Transition Directive in this webinar [FR] organised by Bleen and Give Actions. The ECGT clarifies what constitutes greenwashing and halts the proliferation of unreliable labels. It is important that the ambition of the text is effectively transposed in national law.

Alignment of global greenhouse gas standards

13 April - Online

In this webinar hosted by the standardisation organisations of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland ECOS Programme Officer Thea Lyngseth will provide an overview of the GHG Protocol and the ISO GHG accounting standards and demonstrate why broad stakeholder participation is crucial for developing standards that are robust, coherent, and practical to implement.

Sustainable Buildings and Construction Summit

20-22 April | Lausanne, Switzerland

UNEP and the Global Alliance for Building and Construction are organising a summit to discuss sustainable buildings. Programme Manager Tudor Cherhat will represent ECOS as a supporting partner in two workshops centred on green public procurement measures and circularity in construction.

ARCH-E x ACE conference on Architectural Design Competitions

23 April - Brussels, Belgium

Come say hello to ECOS Programme Manager Tudor Cherhat, who will speak on behalf of the Buy Better to Build Better coalition (BBBB) and give perspectives on the practical implementation of Green Public Procurement (GPP).