PlasticsEurope, the Pan-European trade association representing plastics manufacturers, launched today its Operation Clean Sweep® (OCS) annual Progress Report taking stock of the advancements made by our members together with the value chain towards ending pellet loss in any environment. On this occasion, PlasticsEurope unveiled its action plan, together with the plastics value chain, for the development of a European zero pellet loss certification scheme by 2022.

Following the Socialists and Democrats’ lead, the European Parliament last week endorsed, with the Climate Law, an ambitious 60% emissions reduction target for 2030.  Today, a crucial vote on the financing of the transition to a sustainable society and economy will take place in the European Parliament. The S&Ds campaigned to put the Green Deal at the heart of the new Commission’s work programme, now they are pushing for its financing to be sufficient, sustainable and social.

Electricity storage capacities are vital assets of a reliable carbon-neutral power system, dominated by increased amounts of variable and decentralised renewable energy sources. But a deep decarbonisation needs to be urgently paired with the development and uptake of fit for purpose storage solutions, as well as enabling policy frameworks.

On Wednesday 14 October, Rainer Plassmann, CEEP President, and Valeria Ronzitti, CEEP General Secretary, addressed the Tripartite Social Summit (TSS) videoconference. In presence of, amongst others, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, CEEP called for the clear recognition of the role played by services of general interest during the COVID-19 crisis and on the path to recovery.

On 14 October 2020, CEN, CENELEC and ETSI, the three official European Standardization Organizations, join the international standardization community in celebrating World Standards Day. By focusing on the environment, this year’s edition aims to raise awareness on the potential of standards to help tackle the climate crisis.