On 24 September 2026, CEN and CENELEC participated in the ECOS and InDiCo-Global workshop "Towards a Greener ICT Value Chain: Standards, Policies and Best Practices Dialogue for Europe and Africa" in Nairobi, Kenya. Bringing together policymakers, standards bodies, environmental organizations, industry representatives and civil society stakeholders, the event provided a platform for exchange on standards and policies supporting greener and more circular ICT value chains.
During the session on sharing best practices in standardization, the three European Standardization Organizations (ESOs) presented the European experience in fostering inclusive participation in standardization. The presentation highlighted how the involvement of environmental organizations, consumers, workers, SMEs and public authorities contributes to the development of standards that are both technically sound and responsive to broader societal needs.
The discussion also explored the European framework for stakeholder participation, including the mechanisms established under Regulation (EU) 1025/2012 to facilitate the effective involvement of societal stakeholders and SMEs in the European Standardization System. Such approaches help ensure that sustainability, accessibility and public-interest considerations are reflected throughout the standards development process.
The workshop highlighted the shared ambition of African and European stakeholders to advance greener digitalization and promote sustainable ICT value chains. It also demonstrated the importance of knowledge sharing, capacity building and international cooperation in addressing common sustainability challenges.
CEN and CENELEC remain committed to supporting dialogue and international cooperation on inclusive standardization and welcomes further exchanges with partners seeking to strengthen stakeholder participation and sustainable standardization practices.
