Written by Eliza Druta
Dear reader,
Welcome back to Publyon’s monthly sustainability newsletter!
As the summer winds down and the policy engines in Brussels gear back up, we’re diving into a packed agenda of legislative updates, consultations, and key events shaping the EU’s sustainability landscape.
Europe’s bold plan for sustainable growth, the “Clean Industrial Deal”, represents a major shift for EU businesses, especially in energy-intensive sectors. Don’t miss your chance to engage with the Commission to shape this deal and influence the policy direction for the next five years.
The spotlight
EU Commission opens consultation for the Circular Economy Act
We’ve had to wait a long time for it, but it’s finally here. On August 1, the European Commission opened the consultation period for the Circular Economy Act (CEA). This means that until November 6, you can share your feedback with the Commission on the impact assessment of the future CEA legislation. The European Commission is seeking to boost industry and competitiveness while ensuring the greening and sustainability of the economy and builds on various declarations (Antwerp Declaration, Budapest Declaration), reports by Draghi and Letta, the Clean Industrial Deal, and the Competitiveness Compass.
The focus of this legislation is on the circularity and single market of waste and secondary raw materials, but existing laws don’t suffice to cover the entire EU product chains. The CEA will tackle this by making it easier to supply and buy recycled materials. It focuses on two main things: better recycling of e-waste to recover valuable materials, and fixing the single market to encourage the use of recycled content in new products. This offers enormous opportunities for companies in the field of sustainability and waste processing to scale up and expand their activities. The Commission is expanding the playing field for companies in the field of circularity and its increased sustainability standards will benefit many in the value chain.
In meantime, the European Commission awaits your feedback before proceeding with the official proposal! Learn more about this below.
Impact analysis for your business
Our free updates keep you informed, but is that enough? With our tailored sustainability updates you’ll receive:
- Custom insights on how upcoming policy changes might impact your business;
- Strategic advice from your dedicated policy consultant on how to turn challenges into opportunities;
- Early warnings about key legislative developments.
Policy updates
No global plastics treaty
On 15 August, it was announced that the UN summit to reach a global agreement on plastic pollution had failed to produce a deal. No global treaty also means that, for the time being, there will be no minimum standards on which the EU can base its actions. The discussions came to a standstill after several countries objected to crucial proposals, making it impossible to reach a consensus on how to tackle the plastic crisis. The EU, which was pursuing an ambitious agreement that addresses the entire life cycle of plastic and accelerates the transition to a circular economy, aimed to establish global rules and targets for the production and consumption of plastic. The recent impasse highlights the ongoing challenges in forming international agreements.
New EUDR guidance published
On 12 August, the Commission published a new guidance document for the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) which defines ‘negligible risk’ as showing no cause for concern that a product is non-compliant based on a full assessment and any necessary mitigation measures. The guidance confirms the existing deadline of 30 December for most companies, with a later deadline of 30 June 2026 for small or micro undertakings. It also clarifies that the regulation only applies to deforestation for agricultural use and outlines which local laws are relevant. The document provides simplifications for operators sourcing from low-risk countries and for non-SMEs further down the supply chain, as long as they verify their products. If a product is found to have a non-negligible risk, it cannot be placed on or exported from the EU market.
Consultation for Environmental Omnibus published
On 22 July, the European Commission published a call for input on an initiative to simplify environmental legislation, also known as the Environmental Omnibus. Input can be submitted until 10 September. The initiative proposes four types of measures to reduce administrative burdens. These include streamlining reporting requirements and abolishing redundant reporting obligations for the circular economy, industrial emissions, and waste management. The proposal also aims to harmonise Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) procedures and address challenges with permitting related to environmental assessments.
Call for evidence: New Legislative Framework
On 14 July, the European Commission published a call for evidence for a revision of the New Legislative Framework (NLF). The initiative aims to modernise the NLF, which is a key tool for harmonising EU product legislation. The primary goals of the revision are to improve harmonisation, cut regulatory burdens, and use digital tools to boost compliance and safety. Possible legislative options being considered include increasing digital integration through a mandatory Digital Product Passport and revising conformity assessment processes. The initiative also aims to simplify rules for businesses, especially SMEs, and to integrate environmental sustainability by incorporating circularity objectives into product legislation.
Blog
EU Circular Economy Act: how will it shape the future of the EU and your business?
With the European Commission launching its formal public consultation on 01 August, we’re now entering the crucial phase where business input can still shape the scope before the legislative text is drafted.
Read more
Events
Find a detailed overview of Brussels’ main sustainability-related events that you absolutely should join this month.
- 15 September, IEEP, Finance for Nature-based Solutions, Maison de la Poste, Brussels.
- 16-17 September, European Commission, European Research and Innovation Days, The Square, Brussels.
- 17 September, Cepi, Circular Choices: A circular bioeconomy for growth and innovation, The Residence Palace, Brussels.
- 18 September, ERRIN, Europe’s first Soil Monitoring Law: opportunities for policy, research and practice, BIP meeting centre, Brussels/Online.
- 29 September – 3 October, European Hydrogen Week 2025, Conference, The Square, Brussels.
