2024 summarised in 8 key EU regulations on waste, circular economy, and sustainability.
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This has been a pivotal year for the European Union in its journey toward a more sustainable and circular future.
The EU has strengthened its strategy on the circular economy, sustainability, and efficient waste management with a series of key regulations. Below, we summarise the main ones:
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18 March 2024: The Council of the EU approved the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), establishing a framework to ensure a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials, vital for the green and digital transitions.
The regulation sets ambitious targets, such as extracting 10% of these materials within the EU, processing 40% locally, and obtaining 25% from recycled materials. It also streamlines permit procedures for strategic projects, establishes risk assessments in supply chains, and promotes the creation of quality local jobs.
25 March 2024: The Council of the EU approved the revised Waste Shipment Regulation, limiting the shipment of problematic waste outside the EU. The regulation bans the export of non-hazardous plastic waste to non-OECD countries, with some exceptions, and tackles illegal shipments.
It also ensures that waste is treated in an environmentally sound manner and updates procedures to support the circular economy and climate neutrality. Additionally, it introduces electronic measures for the notification and authorization of shipments, and enforces a ban on the export of hazardous waste to non-OECD countries.
26 March 2024: The Council of the EU adopted the Environmental Crime Directive, which strengthens penalties and broadens the scope of environmental offences, replacing the 2008 legislation.
The list of offence categories expands from 9 to 20, including timber trafficking and the illegal recycling of polluting components of ships. The directive introduces a maximum prison sentence of at least 10 years for serious offences and fines of up to 5% of total worldwide turnover for companies. It also contains provisions for environmental restoration and exclusion from public funding for offenders.
12 April 2024: The Council of the EU adopted the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED), a revised framework on industrial emissions, along with a new Regulation to establish an updated Industrial Emissions Portal (IEP).
This directive aims to reduce pollutant emissions, including the regulation of intensive livestock farming and mining, and promote the circular economy and energy efficiency. It introduces mandatory electronic permits and penalties of up to 3% of annual turnover for serious infringements. The right to claim compensation for health damage is also guaranteed, while the new portal will improve public access to emissions data.
24 May 2024: The Council of the EU definitively adopted the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, introducing significant obligations for large companies with over 1,000 employees and a turnover of more than 450 million euros. The directive requires them to monitor, prevent, or remedy human rights or environmental damages from their operations and value chains.
Companies will have to implement climate plans aligned with the Paris Agreement and take responsibility for damages caused, including compensation to victims. The directive’s implementation will be phased depending on company size, starting three years after its entry into force, and member states will have two years to adapt it.
27 May 2024: The Council of the EU adopted the Ecodesign Regulation, which enlarges its scope to cover all kinds of products, with some exceptions for cars and defence-related products. It introduces requirements such as durability, reparability, environmental footprint, and a digital product passport.
The regulation also bans the destruction of unsold textiles and footwear, with a temporary exclusion for SMEs. Ecodesign criteria will be applicable in public procurement to foster sustainability.
30 May 2024: The Council of the EU adopted the Right-to-Repair (or R2R) Directive, promoting the repair of defective products to reduce costs for consumers and foster sustainability.
The legislation requires manufacturers to offer technical repairs, introduces forms with clear information about the repair process for consumers, extends the legal warranty by 12 months if repair is chosen over replacement, and creates a platform for locating repair services. The list of repairable products could be expanded in the future.
16 December 2024: The EU Council has approved a new Regulation on Packaging and Packaging Waste, establishing rules to reduce waste and increase reuse within the EU.
The new rules include binding reuse targets, a reduction in the use of single-use packaging, and the obligation to minimise the weight and volume of packaging. Additionally, hazardous substances in food-contact packaging are being restricted. Restrictions will be implemented on plastic packaging, with reuse targets set for 2030 and 2040.
At TEIMAS, we understand the complexity of regulatory changes and their impact on large waste-producing companies. Therefore, from October to November 2024, we launched the workshop series "Surfing the Tsunami of Sustainability Compliance", a resource designed to explain and simplify the most relevant regulations. Discover all the details at tsunami.teimas.com.
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