New activities and stories
Brief News
2023-10-09: European Standards help ensure good health and well-being for all
Every year, on 14 October the international standardization community celebrates World Standards Day. This event is a means of paying tribute to the collaborative efforts of thousands of experts worldwide whose work contributes to the development of voluntary standards.
Press Release
2022-10-14: World Standards day 2022: European Standards support the Sustainable Development Goals
On 14 October 2022, CEN and CENELEC join the international standardization community in celebrating World Standards Day. Under the motto “Shared visions for a better world”, the event is an opportunity to showcase the many ways in which international standards can contribute to building a sustainable future.
Press Release
2022-01-13: Standards for the Climate: CEN and CENELEC signed the London Declaration
European standards are a key enabler of the solutions needed for the Green Transition and contribute to a more sustainable future for Europe and the world. For this reason, CEN and CENELEC are proud to endorse the London Declaration on the commitment of international standards to climate action.
Brief News
2021-10-14: World Standards Day: the role of standards in supporting the SDGs
Every year on 14 October, the international standardization community celebrates World Standards Day. This 2021 edition called “Our shared vision for a better world” is dedicated to how standards support the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations (SDGs).
Webinar
2020-06-08: ‘Exploring standardization's contribution to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)’.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by the UN General Assembly, calls all countries and stakeholders to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The European Green Deal puts the SDGs at the heart of EU policy making and action. CEN and CENELEC organized a webinar on the topic.
Access the presentation, Q&A and recording
CEN and CENELEC emerging activities
Sectors’ Approach to Circularity and sustainability supporting the UN SDGs (not exhaustive list):
- CEN/TC 467 ‘Climate Change’, the objective will be to develop European standards to mitigate and adapt to climate change, including related social and economic aspects (this work will support SDG 13)
- CEN/TC 466 'Circularity and recyclability of fishing gear and aquaculture equipment', the standard(s) for circular design of fishing gear should provide the level playing field for the industry to develop a higher quality and environmentally friendly fishing gear that is easily reused or recycled at the end of life and will provide the industry the opportunity to act sustainably for a healthier planet. (this work will support SDG 14)
- CEN/TC 248 WG 39 'Circular Economy for textile products and the textile chain', this work will describe categories of circular textile products. It will set requirements for input flows and the circular strategies applied to be able to report on categories of circular textile products. This will contribute to the EU Circular Economy Action Plan and should help defining environmental and circular criteria for this sector (this work will support SDG 12)
- CLC/TC 59X created a new Working Group: CLC/TC59X WG 23 'Material efficiency of household and similar electrical appliances' to prepare deliverables for material efficiency on aspects such as durability, reparability, reusability, recyclability and recycled content (this work will support SDG 7, SDG 12).
- CEN/TC 248 WG 37 'Microplastics from textile sources', the work is related to the prevention of micro-plastic release from textile sources in cooperation with ISO. The results obtained by using the first part of the standards series will enable manufacturers of textile articles to make an informed choice about the type of fabric to use to reduce/minimise shedding of microplastics into the aquatic environment after washing. This work will contribute to the EU strategy for sustainable textiles. (this work will support SDG 12)
- CEN/TC 350/SC 1 ‘Circular economy in the construction sector’. The purpose is to develop deliverables enabling the transition from a linear to a circular economy of the construction sector to support a climate neutral and resource efficient sector (this work will support SDG 7, SDG 9)
- CEN/TC 261/SC 4 ‘Packaging and Environment’, the work will contribute to reduce the plastic pollution of beverage containers caps & lids on beaches and in oceans by specifying requirements and test methods to demonstrate that plastic caps and lids of single-use beverage containers remain attached to the containers during the product’s intended use stage. M/569 supporting the Directive (EU) 2019/904 on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment (this work will support SDG 12 + SDG 14)