European standards contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda and help businesses in making the transition towards a circular, low carbon and climate resilient economy.
According to the Treaty that establishes the European Community "Environmental protection requirements must be integrated into the definition and implementation of the Community policies and activities, in particular with a view to promoting sustainable development". Standards are supporting the implementation of the EU policies and therefore are also a tool for supporting the protection of the environment.
CEN and CENELEC work closely together on finding the best ways to respond to the latest challenges of the environmental policy, business and societal needs. They continuously assess the needs and provide the necessary tools to support the work of the standard writers in all sectors in addressing the environmental and climate change related aspects in standards.
Standards, whether they are product standards, service standards, or process standards, all may have an impact on the environment. The environmental impact of a product standard, for example, will vary according to the different stages of the lifecycle that can be distinguished (production, distribution, use and end-of-life). Standardization can play a major role in reducing environmental impacts by influencing the choices that are made in connection with the design of products and processes.
