SEPTEMBER 2025

Dear ECOS subscriber,

As most of us return from busy summer breaks, September has proven to be even busier. In our latest newsletter you can catch up on what you might have missed - from the environmental impacts of data centres to defining ‘regenerative’ bioeconomy - but also learn about what’s coming up!

Looking ahead to World Standards Day in just a few weeks (14 October), we’ve been writing about the importance of inclusiveness in standardisation. We will also be hosting an event with our members in Sweden to help engage civil society in the development of standards at national level.

All this and more – plus regular updates from across our international network of experts, partners, and members.

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

Bringing the environmental perspective into the development of standards can make production, consumption, and innovation more sustainable and responsible, as well as steer industries towards investments that better respond to societal needs and public policy objectives.

How data centre expansion risks derailing climate goals

Increasing popularity of AI and digital technologies is driving a boom in the need for data centres, but left unchecked, this expansion risks undermining climate goals. In our new report, written with Open Future, we analyse the environmental impacts of data centres, the solutions, and the possible EU policy responses.

Harmonisation of ISO and GHG-P standards must raise the quality bar

The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG-P)’s decision to create common emissions accounting standards has the potential to streamline and simplify procedures - but this must be done in a way that lifts climate ambition.

Can we really talk about a “regenerative” bioeconomy?

The European Commission is revising the current EU Bioeconomy Strategy and refers to a “regenerative” bioeconomy, suggesting something sustainable - but without an agreed definition, this can lead to misleading claims, or even greenwashing, whilst detracting from ecologically sound approaches.

Wall Street Journal - ISO, Greenhouse Gas Protocol to Align on Carbon Accounting Rules

Head of Environmental Transparency, Mathilde Crêpy, spoke to Wall Street Journal about the importance of transparency and inclusiveness as ISO and Greenhouse Gas Protocol announced they will create a combined standard on carbon accounting.

Watch | Why recycling alone won’t solve the EU’s plastic struggle

European Newsroom asked Head of Circular Economy & Nature, Mariana López Dávila, about EU packaging rules, recent international negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty, and why we cannot recycle our way out of the plastics crisis.

08 October 2025

From concept to action: Make circular economy the standard

Together with our member, Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, we are organising an event to discuss why and how civil society should get involved in standardisation in Sweden. The effective participation of environmental NGOs in standards-making is key to making sure our planet is protected by robust rules – and this year we are focusing on the role standards in creating a circular economy.

• Infographic | Reusing timber in construction
• Laying the foundations to safely reuse timber in Europe
• Our commitment to developing the EU Circular Economy Act
• Closing the loopholes: A call for stronger EU rules on eCommerce
• Hatchet Job on the Forest Monitoring Law – What Next?
• Simplification must be about better implementation, not deregulation
• A New Legislative Framework fit for circular economy and the digital transition
• Aligning product legislation with the digital age
• EU accounting methodology for recycled plastic content

HOP Director joins board for French national standardisation body

Congratulations to Laetitia Vasseur, Co-founder and Director of HOP (‘Stop Planned Obsolescence’) [FR], who was elected to the Board of the French National Standardisation Body, AFNOR. We were delighted to support her candidacy and promote the inclusion of environmental stakeholders in national standardisation. Get in touch to find out how you can get more involved in standardisation in your country.

How Austria is finding its way out of the throwaway society

Our Austrian member GLOBAL2000 has launched a new campaign, Schöner ohne Müll ‘more beautiful without waste’ [DE], to make resource reduction a priority for the Austrian federal government.

400 million PCs could become obsolete

On 14 October, Microsoft will end free support for Windows 10. This move could push millions of PCs into premature obsolescence and generate avoidable e-waste, writes the Right to Repair coalition in their latest campaign. Ahead of International Repair Day (18 October), circular economy and digital rights groups worldwide are pushing back against fast tech.

What you missed on plastics policy over the summer

Whilst some of us might have taken a break over the summer, this wasn’t the case for the busy world of plastic policy. From Global Plastic Treaty talks in Geneva to European Commission proposals on chemical recycling, Rethink Plastic alliance’s latest blog post has got you covered on what you missed.

Inclusiveness at ISO Annual Meeting

7 October | Kigali, Rwanda

Standards play an increasingly important role in environmental protection, but underrepresentation of diverse and relevant expertise risks the adoption of standards which may not be fit for purpose. Executive Director, Justin Wilkes will address the ISO Annual Meeting ahead of World Standards Day, which will focus on partnerships and working together.

The importance of an inclusive standardisation system

9 October | Online

Co-hosted with ANEC and CEN & CENELEC, join our webinar, to hear Senior Programme Manager Amina Aissani and other speakers offer key insights into inclusive standardisation, including real case studies from consumer and environmental organisations.

Africa International E-Waste Conference

16-17 October | Mombasa, Kenya

If you’re attending the 5^th edition of the Africa International E-Waste Conference, make sure to say hello to Marxine Waite, Senior Programme Manager for the ECOS Africa office.

Empowering bio-based choices through smart certification

21 October | Online

Senior Programme Manager Margaux Le Gallou will help kick off the final 3-CO project event by discussing how smart certification and clear labelling can enhance consumer trust in bio-based products and provide an evaluation of label and certification schemes in consumer choices – join us online!