Stay Ahead: Navigate Policies, Regulations & Standards with Confidence

The United Kingdom’s Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) requires companies that manufacture or import more than 10 tonnes of plastic packaging annually to pay a levy on materials containing less than 30% recycled content. Introduced in April 2022, the measure encourages the use of recycled plastics and supports the UK’s shift toward a circular economy. Administered by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), the tax aims to reduce dependence on virgin plastic and create financial incentives for sustainable packaging design.

The ISO 14064 series provide a globally recognized, three-part framework for organizations and projects to measure, manage and report greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions and removals. Part 1 covers organization-level inventories, Part 2 addresses project-level emission-reductions or removals, and Part 3 guides independent verification and validation of GHG claims. Created by International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and reviewed in 2018/2019, ISO 14064 is programme-neutral and supports credible climate disclosure and decision-making.

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards provide organizations worldwide with a modular framework to report their environmental, social and governance impacts. Along with environment/climate topics like emissions (GRI 305: Emissions), energy, water-use, materials, biodiversity and waste, the system also spans social and governance issues, enabling companies to publish comparable, credible sustainability disclosures aligned with multi-stakeholder expectations.

CDP’s disclosure framework covers governance, strategy, risks & opportunities, targets and metrics across climate, water and forests. It mandates Scope 1–3 emissions disclosures, transition-plan data, water stress and withdrawal numbers, forest-risk commodity sourcing, and sector-specific questions. The 2024–25 edition merges previously separate themes into a single reporting tool aligned with major frameworks.

The EU Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) sets mandatory targets for deploying charging and refuelling infrastructure across the EU. Entering into force in April 2024, AFIR requires Member States to ensure the rollout of electric-vehicle fast-charging stations, hydrogen refuelling points every 200 km, and shore-side electricity supply for major ports by 2030. It guarantees interoperability, clear pricing, and open access across all public charging networks. Replacing the 2014 directive, AFIR is a central element of the Fit for 55 and European Green Deal initiatives, supporting the transition to zero-emission mobility across road, maritime, and aviation transport modes.

The EU CO₂ Emission Performance Standards for Cars and Vans set binding emission limits for new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles sold in the European Union. The regulation requires manufacturers to progressively reduce fleet-wide CO₂ emissions, achieving full decarbonisation of new vehicles by 2035. First applied in 2020, the framework defines intermediate targets for 2025 and 2030, along with reporting and compliance mechanisms monitored by the European Commission. It supports the EU’s broader Fit for 55 and Green Deal objectives, promoting the shift to electric and zero-emission vehicles through innovation incentives, pooling arrangements, and strict penalties for excess emissions.

The EU CO₂ Emission Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles establish legally binding CO₂ reduction targets for new trucks, buses, and coaches sold in the European Union. The regulation requires manufacturers to progressively cut fleet-wide CO₂ emissions, achieving reductions of 15% by 2025, 45% by 2030, 65% by 2035, and 90% by 2040, compared with 2019–2020 levels. It forms a central pillar of the EU’s transport decarbonisation strategy and supports the transition to electric and hydrogen-based heavy vehicles. Adopted in 2019 and strengthened in 2024, the framework promotes technological innovation, sets reporting and verification obligations, and introduces super-credits for zero- and low-emission vehicles.

The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) establishes a comprehensive legal framework requiring that products placed on the European Union market be designed for durability, reparability, recyclability and minimal environmental impact. Entering into force on 18 July 2024, the law empowers the European Commission to adopt delegated acts setting product-specific performance requirements—from textiles and electronics to furniture and tyres. Key tools include the Digital Product Passport (DPP), bans on destruction of unsold goods, increased recycled content, and life-cycle information disclosure. The ESPR supports the EU’s Circular Economy and Green Deal objectives and signals a paradigm shift: sustainability becomes the baseline for product design and marketing across multiple sectors by 2030.

The recast Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) strengthens Europe’s energy-use targets and embeds the “energy efficiency first” principle across all sectors and investment decisions. From 2021 to 2030, the directive requires Member States to achieve significantly higher annual energy-savings rates, tougher obligations for public sector energy use, improved energy audits, and faster renovation of buildings. The law entered into force in October 2023, with transposition required by May 2025. It sets a binding Union-wide target of an additional 11.7% reduction in energy consumption by 2030 compared to the 2020 reference scenario, making energy efficiency core to the EU’s drive for decarbonisation and energy security.

The EU F-Gas Regulation (Recast), Regulation (EU) 2024/573, strengthens controls on fluorinated greenhouse gases, including HFCs, PFCs, and SF₆. Entering into force in March 2024, it introduces a faster phase-down of high-GWP gases, new bans on specific equipment, tighter containment and recovery rules, and mandatory digital reporting for producers and importers. By 2050, the EU aims to fully eliminate the use of high-GWP F-gases. The regulation applies to manufacturers, importers, service companies, and distributors across all sectors using refrigerants or insulation gases. As a pillar of the European Green Deal, it supports the transition toward climate neutrality and the adoption of low-emission alternatives in industry, transport, and energy systems.