Category: Sustainability
Electric cars: game changers for tomorrow’s energy offers
“Car biz is hell” Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently said in a twitter exchange. Media eagerly reported that the electric car pioneer is sleeping at Tesla’s factory, to remedy production delays on its latest model. But production delays are just...
Green your spring cleaning: 5 reasons to choose EU Ecolabel detergents
It’s spring time! As flowers bud and birds chirp after the (long) winter break, you might want to make your home tidy and shiny. Why not go green for this spring cleaning? We use washing liquids, laundry powders, multi-purpose cleaners...
Consumers can save fuel and money if the EU goes the full mile on CO2 targets for cars
On 8 November, the European Commission published its much-awaited “Europe on the Move” legislative package. In the Commission’s own words, it wants to “reaffirm Europe’s leadership in fighting climate change and the Commission’s endeavour to empower Europe’s citizens and defend...
Making clean cars work for consumers in the 2020s
In the next decade, the automotive sector has a huge chance to rid itself of its bad-boy-Dieselgate tag and clean up the cars of the future. This means an investment in technologies that will cut emissions and the cost of...
The difference between a Stradivarius violin and your electric toothbrush
Antonio Stradivari was an Italian genius who created over 1,000 musical instruments of the finest quality. Several hundred of his famous violins survived the past 350 years through turbulent times, and their sound still rejoices us today. Their owners would...
Fluorinated substances: the best packaging for your fast food?
The food that I serve my three children is likely to contain unwanted substances due to contaminated soil, air or water. It’s sad, but it’s a fact. What I struggle to understand is why problematic substances are intentionally added to...
Energy Label – a compass that needs calibration
At a time when the EU is supposed to deal only with the ‘big’ things, I‘d like to talk about a small sticker. A sticker which has a significant impact though, both for consumers’ pockets and the climate. You find...
It’s time for the EU Ecolabel to fly!
Environmental labels have proliferated in the past decades [1]. As demand for more sustainable products has grown, so have the initiatives to label them. So much so that there are now over 500 such labels in use worldwide. That doesn’t...
Will the EU get out of first gear on emissions cheating?
It’s now over half a year since a US agency discovered ‘defeat devices’ in Volkswagen cars to get around air pollution rules. Following the revelations, European decision makers scrambled to act. Now the question is whether long overdue EU measures will...
For better or for worse? The Commission and its ‘better regulation’ agenda
One of the Juncker Commission’s favourite catchphrases is to deliver ‘better regulation for better results.’ At the same time, it claims it will serve citizens and restore confidence in the European Union project. Unfortunately, recent developments suggest it is struggling...