Stay Ahead: Navigate Policies, Regulations & Standards with Confidence

The EUDR requires operators and non-SME traders to file a due-diligence statement in the Commission’s Information System covering CN code, quantities, country of production, and geolocation of all plots before placing or exporting in-scope products (cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soy, wood). Penalties include fines up to 4% of EU turnover. Application: 30 Dec 2025 (large/medium); 30 Jun 2026 (SMEs).

The EU Waste Framework Directive (WFD) defines the principles of waste management across all EU Member States, establishing the waste hierarchy and promoting prevention, reuse, and recycling. It obliges governments and companies to manage waste without harming the environment and to implement extended producer responsibility systems. The 2025 revision strengthens measures on textile and food waste, ensuring greater accountability and progress toward a circular economy.

The EU Single-Use Plastics Directive aims to prevent and reduce the environmental impact of the most polluting plastic items in Europe, particularly those found in oceans and coastal areas. It bans products such as cutlery, straws, plates, and Oxo-degradable plastics, while introducing strict design, collection, and labelling requirements for other items like beverage bottles and fishing gear. The Directive supports the EU’s transition to a circular economy by promoting reusable alternatives, expanding producer responsibility, and setting collection and recycling targets up to 2029.

The EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) sets mandatory standards to improve energy efficiency and decarbonize Europe’s building sector. It requires Member States to adopt national renovation strategies, establish minimum energy performance thresholds, and ensure that all new buildings become zero-emission by 2030. The latest 2024 revision accelerates the phase-out of fossil fuel heating, introduces digital building logbooks, and expands energy performance certification. These measures are key to achieving the EU’s goal of a fully decarbonized building stock by 2050 under the European Green Deal.

The EU WEEE Directive establishes rules for the collection, recycling, and recovery of electrical and electronic waste across all Member States. It requires producers and importers to register, finance, and manage the end-of-life treatment of electronic equipment placed on the EU market. Since 2018, the Directive has applied to all electrical and electronic devices under an “open scope” framework, promoting circularity and resource efficiency. The 2024 amendment further strengthens reporting and cost-sharing rules to support the EU’s transition to a sustainable electronics economy.

Spain’s RD 214/2025 mandates annual calculation of organizational GHG footprints and publication of a ≥5-year reduction plan by companies already obliged to issue non-financial/sustainability reports; state-level public bodies must register annually. Scope 1–2 are compulsory (Scope 3 voluntary for companies). The decree replaced RD 163/2014, entered into force 12 June 2025, and is administered by the Spain's Ministry for Ecological Transition (MITECO).

The Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF) offers financial institutions a standardized, open-source methodology for measuring and disclosing greenhouse-gas emissions tied to loans, investments and underwriting. Launched in 2015 and expanded globally in 2019, it differs from other standards by focusing on “financed emissions” and is now in its second edition (Part A, 2022) with Parts B and C extending coverage.

The ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2023/2405) establishes binding requirements for aviation fuel suppliers, aircraft operators, and EU airports to progressively increase the share of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) in aviation fuel supplied across the European Union. Entering into force in 2023 and applicable from January 2025, it is a cornerstone of the EU’s Fit for 55 package, supporting the decarbonisation of the aviation sector and alignment with the 2050 net-zero target. The regulation mandates a SAF share of 2% in 2025, rising to 70% by 2050, and introduces reporting obligations to ensure transparency and compliance. While mandatory for all major EU airports and fuel suppliers, it includes limited exemptions for small operators and outermost regions. ReFuelEU Aviation aims to stimulate the SAF market, reduce lifecycle emissions, and drive innovation in cleaner aviation technologies across Europe.

The EU Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive limits the use of specific toxic materials in electrical and electronic equipment sold across the European Union. It applies to manufacturers, importers, and distributors, requiring them to comply with strict concentration limits for substances such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and certain phthalates. The Directive promotes safer product design, recyclability, and reduced environmental impact from e-waste. Regular updates ensure alignment with scientific progress, and all covered products must meet RoHS compliance to carry the CE marking before being placed on the EU market.

France’s National Low-Carbon Strategy (SNBC) defines the country’s long-term roadmap to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. It establishes five-year carbon budgets, sector-specific emissions targets, and policy frameworks guiding all levels of government, industry, and society toward a low-carbon economy. First adopted in 2015 and updated in 2020, the SNBC integrates climate objectives into planning, investment, and energy policies, ensuring consistency with France’s commitments under the Paris Agreement. It is legally binding for public authorities and forms the backbone of national climate governance.