2008-05-22 - Position paper on the ecodesign of motors & pumps

ECOS, EEB, INFORSE, WWF, Greenpeace and CAN-Europe have issued a new joint position paper in the context of the European "Ecodesign of Energy-Using Products" policy process.

This paper comments recent proposals from the European Commission to set minimum energy performance requirements on motors, pumps, circulators and ventilation fans. This topic will be discussed in end of May 2008 in Brussels.

To download the NGO position paper:
http://www.ecostandard.org/downloads_a/environmental_ngos_eup_mpcf_21-05-08.pdf

To download the working documents from the European Commission and get more info about the process:http://ec.europa.eu/energy/demand/legislation/eco_design_en.htm#consultation_forum

2008-05-02 - New website layout

Several improvements have been made to our website's design. We hope you like our new homepage!

2008-03-21 - Position paper on the ecodesign of lightbulbs

ECOS, EEB, INFORSE-Europe, WWF, Greenpeace, CAN-Europe and ZMWG (Zero Mercury Working Group) have issued a new joint position paper in the context of the Ecodesign of Energy-Using Products policy process.

This paper comments recent proposals from the European Commission to set ecodesign requirements on domestic lighting, in particular phasing out incandescent lightbulbs. This document is to be discussed on 28 March 2008 during an Ecodesign Consultation Forum meeting in Brussels.

To download the NGO position paper:
http://www.ecostandard.org/downloads_a/eup_environmental_ngos_general_lighting_21-03-08.pdf

To download the working documents from the European Commission:
http://ec.europa.eu/energy/demand/legislation/doc/2008_03_28_working_document_general_lighting_equipment.pdf
http://ec.europa.eu/energy/demand/legislation/doc/2008_03_28_requirements.pdf

More official info on: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/demand/legislation/eco_design_en.htm.

2008-03-17 - Call for action! ECOS against IEC 62368 candle-flame ignition requirement

Three proposed IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) standards would bring hundreds of thousands of tons of potentially toxic fire retardant chemicals into homes, schools, hospitals, businesses - wherever electronic equipment is found. The candle flame resistance requirements in Section 7 of the IEC Standard 62368; Amendment 2 to IEC 60065; and Amendment 1 to IEC 60950-1 would impede the recycling of electronics, and threaten human health and the environment worldwide.

There is no valid fire safety reason for these requirements; the motivation and impetus comes from the fire retardant chemical industry’s continued search for new market opportunities.

Please see the latest version of the NGO White Paper for more details and background at http://greensciencepolicy.org/standards.shtml.

ECOS calls:

1. National IEC committees to vote NO with the technical comment to delete section 7 of IEC CDV 62368 and parallel CLC prEN 62368.

2. NGOs and other environmental stakeholders to sign on to the above-mentioned paper. Please get in touch with Arlene Blum at arlene@arleneblum.com.

2008-02-26 - Position on the revision of the Energy Labelling

Environmental NGOs have responded to the official consultation on the revision of the "A-G" labelling scheme to promote the most energy efficient appliances on the EU market. This label needs a severe upgrading and its scope could be expanded to other products.

Your can download the NGO position paper at:
http://www.ecostandard.org/downloads_a/energy_labelling_environmental_ngos_22-02-08.pdf

2008-02-21 - Position papers on the ecodesign of external power supplies and set top boxes

ECOS, the European Environmental Bureau, INFORSE-Europe, WWF, Greenpeace and CAN-Europe have issued two new joint position papers in the context of the Ecodesign of Energy-Using Products policy process.

These papers comment recent proposals from the European Commission to set ecodesign requirements on external power supplies and set top boxes. These documents are to be discussed on 22 February 2008 during an Ecodesign Consultation Forum meeting in Brussels.

To download the NGO position paper on external power supplies:
http://www.ecostandard.org/downloads_a/eup_eps_environmental_ngos_15-02-08.pdf

To download the NGO position paper on set top boxes:
http://www.ecostandard.org/downloads_a/eup_stb_environmental_ngos_15-02-08.pdf

More official info on: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/demand/legislation/eco_design_en.htm. The Working document of the European Commission can be downloaded on:
http://ec.europa.eu/energy/demand/legislation/eco_design_en.htm

2008-01-21 - ECOS position paper on standards for nanotechnologies

ECOS has published a position paper in response to the European Commission's mandate on standards in the field of nanotechnologies.

Download the paper here.

2008-01-10 - Website updated

- Several pages have been improved and now include elements about our 2008 work programme,
- A new section on "Nanotechnologies" has been created,
- The "Links" page has been updated and cleaned up.

The ECOS team whishes you a very happy New Year!

2007-12-17 - Position paper on the ecodesign of office lighting

ECOS, the European Environmental Bureau, INFORSE-Europe, WWF, Greenpeace and the Zero Mercury Working Group have issued a joint position paper on the ecodesign of office lighting.

This paper comments the recent proposals from the European Commission to set ecodesign requirements on office lighting devices. This Working Document suggests policies to reduce energy consumption, mercury losses and waste production of office lighting equipment (fluorescent lamps, ballasts and luminaires), in the framework of the Ecodesign of Energy-Using Products Directive. The document has been discussed on 17 December at an Ecodesign Consultation Forum meeting in Brussels.

To download the NGO position paper:
http://www.ecostandard.org/downloads_a/final_position_env_ngo_office_lighting_im.pdf

More official info on: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/demand/legislation/eco_design_en.htm. The Working document of the European Commission can be downloaded on:
http://ec.europa.eu/energy/demand/legislation/doc/2007_12_18_working_document_fluorescent_lighting.pdf

 

2007-10-22 - ECOS position paper on stand-by regulation (Ecodesign Policy)

ECOS, the EEB, CAN-Europe, Inforse-Europe, WWF and Greenpeace have issued a joint position paper commenting the Working document of the European Commission on standby.

This Working document suggests horizontal policies to reduce standby losses on electrical equipment, in the framework of the 'Ecodesign of Energy-Using Products' Directive. The document has been discussed Friday 19th October in the Ecodesign Consultation Forum and will lead to an official implementing policy on standby within a year.

To download the ECOS position paper: http://www.ecostandard.org/downloads_a/final_position_eup_standby_env_ngos_-_oct07.pdf

More info on: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/demand/legislation/eco_design_en.htm. The Working document of the European Commission can be downloaded on: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/demand/legislation/doc/2007_10_19_working_document_standby_offmode.pdf

2007-10-08 - ECOS & ANEC position on the ISO14000 review

ECOS and ANEC have just released a joint review highlighting the major flaws of the ISO 14000 standard series. It also gives an outline of necessary changes and additions from a consumer and environmental perspective. To access the document, click here.

2006-11-16 - Article about the new strategy of the CEN Environmental Helpdesk

An article about the new strategy for the Environmental Helpdesk of CEN (European Committee for Standardisation), has recently been published in the ELNI Review. To see the conclusions of the article as well as to download the full article in pdf, please visit the section of Standardisation Policy, under Priorities on this website.

2006-10-27 - Joint position paper on EMAS published today

ECOS together with ANEC, BEUC and EEB has today published a joint position on how EMAS could become a system of excellence by going beyond Environmental Management Systems.

Under Library -> Position papers in the left hand menu, you find the position paper, as well as a link to the complete study "Going beyond EMS" on which the position is based.