EU Green Deal and C2C Certified®

The EU Green Deal is coming fast, and it’s bringing significant changes that will impact how businesses operate. To get ahead, it’s time to start thinking about how your company can align with these new regulations. By embracing Cradle to Cradle Certified®, you’re already setting your business up for success, positioning yourself as a leader in sustainability.

What Is the EU Green Deal, and How Will It Affect You?

The EU Green Deal is the European Commission’s plan to make Europe a sustainable, climate-neutral economy by 2050. Its main goals are:

• Achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

• Decoupling economic growth from resource use.

• Ensuring no one is left behind in this transition.

To meet these objectives, a series of new regulations will soon be in place, impacting companies that sell products in the EU. The good news? If you start preparing now, you can stay ahead of the curve.

Cradle to Cradle Certified® is a proven framework that helps you integrate sustainable practices into your products and processes. Here’s how it can help you comply with the upcoming EU regulations:

1. Due Diligence and Transparency Requirements

Several key regulations are on the horizon:

• Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD): From 2025, you’ll need to report on your environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices for the previous year.

• Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD): This directive aims to enhance protection for the environment and human rights and is expected to be finalized in early 2024.

• EU Taxonomy Regulation: This sets criteria for sustainable investments, focusing on climate goals and a circular economy.

Additionally, the certification’s focus on transparency means your stakeholders can easily access data about your environmental performance, from greenhouse gas emissions to human rights practices.

2. Designing for Circularity and Reducing Waste

Upcoming updates to the EU’s Waste Framework Directive will push companies to reduce waste, enhance recycling, and design products with sustainability in mind. Key changes include:

• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): You’ll be required to take responsibility for the full lifecycle of your products, from sourcing to disposal.

• Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR): This regulation will ensure that products are designed to last longer and are easier to repair, upgrade, and recycle.

• Deforestation-free Products Regulation: From 2025, you’ll need to prove your products do not contribute to deforestation.

More in detail:

• Circular Sourcing: Your products will use recycled or renewable materials, reducing the need for virgin resources and minimizing environmental impact.

• Circular Design: You’ll design products that can be easily repaired, recycled, or biodegraded, ensuring they fit into either the biological or technical cycle.

• Circular Systems: You’ll actively plan for the recovery and recycling of materials, making sure they’re compatible with existing systems or creating new solutions where necessary.

3. Communicating Your Sustainability Efforts

New regulations will also focus on how you communicate your sustainability efforts:

• Empowering Consumers Directive: This will restrict vague sustainability claims and will be enforced from 2026.

• Substantiating Green Claims Directive (SGCD): Aiming to prevent greenwashing, this directive will require verified and accurate claims starting from 2027.

• Digital Product Passport: Part of the ESPR, this tool will provide detailed information about your products’ sustainability, accessible via a simple scan.

Get Ready with Cradle to Cradle Certified®

The upcoming EU regulations may seem overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate them alone. With Cradle to Cradle Certified®, you have a comprehensive framework that not only helps you meet these new requirements but also sets your company apart as a leader in the circular economy.

Now is the time to take action. By integrating Cradle to Cradle Certified® into your strategy, you can ensure your products are ready for the future, reduce risks, and show your commitment to sustainability. Reach out to us for more guidance on how you can prepare for these changes and stay ahead in this new era of sustainable business.