Europe
New rules to enhance product sustainability
In May 2024, the legislative act related to ecodesign products was adopted. Following the Council’s and European Parliament’s approval, the regulation will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and will enter into force on the 20th day following its publication. It will apply from 24 months after the entry into force.
Soon, new ecodesign measures will be applied to consumer products such as textiles, furniture and tyres. Regarding clothing and footwear, the destruction of unsold items will be banned and consumers will have accurate and up-to-date information to make purchasing choices via newly-introduced digital product passports.
France
Ecobalyse: Environmental impact calculator for textiles
The Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion has unveiled its Ecobalyse project.
Ecobalyse is an assessment tool that enables you to quickly estimate the environmental impact of a product based on a few simple criteria: weight, composition, place of assembly, etc.
The aim is to use this information to display environmental metrics that will allow consumers to transparently assess the environmental impact of each product they choose, subsequently encouraging more informed choices.
This system is also aimed at producers and distributors in order to encourage and promote their eco-design efforts.
Its deployment online and in stores for textiles products is planned for this autumn.
Italy
New CONAI guidelines to the Environmental Contribution 2024
The Italian National Packaging Consortium (CONAI) published a full series of specific guidelines for environmental contribution. The guidelines are
- Guide to Environmental Contribution 2024
- Guide to Environmental Contribution 2024 – Abstract
- CONAI Environmental Contribution
Other interesting links related to environmental labelling
- How to read environmental labelling
- What packaging is not (Regulatory references – Legislative Decree. 152/06)
SUSTAINABILITY, CIRCULAR ECONOMY, AND ENVIRONMENT
The below table summarises the most recent publications regarding the environment, circular economy, and sustainability (non-exhaustive)
| Entity | Date | Publication |
| European Council | 29/04/2024 | Council adopts directive to delay reporting obligations for certain sectors and third country companies.
The directive amends the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) to give the companies concerned more time to apply European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). |
| European Commission | 30/04/2024 | Public initiative: Waste shipments – information to be included in certificates on subsequent (non-)interim recovery & disposal operations.
The draft act has been published and was in feedback period until 28th May 2024. |
| European Commission | 06/05/2024 | Public initiative: EU environmental law – 2025 implementation review
This initiative is in preparation. The main points are
|
| European Commission | 07/05/2024 | Public initiative: Calculation and verification methodology of rates for recycling efficiency and recovery of materials of waste batteries
This initiative is in preparation and the aim is to support the circular economy in the battery sector and ensure high quality of recovery of materials, especially of critical and strategic raw materials. The calculation and verification methodology is important to ensure a level playing field between recyclers and provide legal certainty on requirements within the EU. |
| UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 14/05/2024 | The Environment Act 2021 (Commencement No. 9 and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024 No. 639) |
| UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 20/05/2024 | The Separation of Waste (England) Regulations 2024 (S.I. 2024 No. 666)
These regulations set out descriptions of the household waste and the relevant waste that is classed as recyclable household waste and recyclable relevant waste under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (c. 43) (“the 1990 Act”). These regulations also specify descriptions of premises which are to be considered non-domestic. Regulation 13 places duties on establishments and undertakings, and waste collection authorities, in relation to the collection of waste, which are no longer necessary under the new requirements. |
| European Council | 21/05/2024 | Artificial intelligence (AI) act: Council gives final green light to the first worldwide rules on AI. |
