There are a number of European Commission consultations that our European IMS members might be interested in. They mostly deal with sustainability issues, but there is also the future of the Construction Products Regulations.  The links to each are given below.

Here is an overview:

• Sustainable Products Initiative – Deadline 2 November (Roadmap) https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12567-Sustainable-Products-Initiative This initiative, which will revise the Ecodesign Directive and propose additional legislative measures as appropriate, aims to make products placed on the EU market more sustainable.
• Green Claims – Deadline 3 December https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12511-Environmental-claims-based-on-environmental-footprint-methods/public-consultation. It is important that claims on the environmental performance of companies and products are reliable, comparable and verifiable across the EU. Reliable environmental information would allow market actors – consumers, companies, investors – to take greener decisions. In this context and in line with Better Regulation principles, the Commission has decided to launch a public consultation designed to gather stakeholders’ views on an initiative on green claims.  The aims of this consultation are to give all citizens and organisations the opportunity to inform policy development and to gather opinions on policy options and their potential impacts.
• CPR – Deadline 25 December 2020 https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12458-Review-of-the-Construction-Products-Regulation. The Construction Products Regulation lays down EU-wide rules for marketing construction products. This initiative will review these rules. It includes addressing the issues identified in the 2019 evaluation and improving how the single market for construction products functions. The aim is to unlock the sector’s growth and jobs potential, promote environmental goals as part of the Green Deal and Circular Economy Action Plan, and possibly promote product safety.
• Packaging Waste – Deadline 6 January 2021 https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12263-Review-of-the-requirements-for-packaging-and-feasibility-of-measures-to-prevent-packaging-waste The Commission will review the requirements on packaging and packaging waste in the EU. In a ‘circular economy’, waste is reduced and goods are re-used and recycled as much as possible. This means that packaging waste should also be reduced, and packaging should be made easier to recycle. This will include assessing how to:
  • Improve packaging design to promote reuse and recycling
  • increase recycled content in packaging
  • tackle excessive packaging
  • reduce packaging waste.