If you’d told me a year ago when I started doing the comms for the BEUC International affairs team that I’d be pondering the intersection of customs and sustainability… well actually I wouldn’t have been that surprised but I wouldn’t have had a clue what that could entail. Until then, customs felt about as exciting as reading the terms and conditions on a new app. I’ve now come to learn; there’s more to customs than stamps and queues—and so I couldn’t help but wonder: could customs actually be… the key for more sustainability?
What’s the Big deal with customs?
Like most people, I never really thought about how products get into the EU: whether it’s a new kitchen appliance for my cooking experiences I ordered online or a toy I bought for a little cousin. I just assumed that by the time they hit store shelves or online marketplaces, someone had made sure they were safe, and compliant with EU rules—also when it comes to certain sustainability standards.
Spoiler alert: that’s not always the case. Consumer organisations—BEUC members—have found a plethora of products that do not comply with EU rules, like dangerous toys, energy-inefficient electronics, and even clothing with chemicals that are harmful to our health and the environment are slipping through the cracks.
And I couldn’t help but wonder… are customs really supposed to stop all these products at the border?
Still, the volume of trade—especially online shopping—has exploded, and customs authorities are stretched thin. In 2023, that meant checking about 4 (f-o-u-r!) billion lower-value parcels that entered the continent. Over 10 million parcels a day. That makes for a system that’s struggling to keep up with consumers’ demands of sustainability.
Is it time Customs got a sustainability makeover?
The EU is now working on a major customs reform, and while I’m not a policy wonk, I can see why this matters for consumers. The reform could make customs smarter and more efficient, giving authorities the tools they need to enforce standards. It could also hold online platforms accountable for the products they sell—something that’s sorely needed as e-commerce keeps growing.
For now, and as it is, the reform isn’t quite perfect. For one, it relies heavily on long-term solutions (some, like the set-up of a Customs Data Hub, wouldn’t be operational until 2037). And on top of that, the whole reform process is taking quite a long time: representatives from the 27 different customs systems have still not taken their position to even start negotiations with the European Parliament. That’s a long wait when we’re facing urgent challenges like climate change and rising consumer expectations for greener choices.
The Customs reform has the potential to close loopholes, better equip customs authorities, and ensure imports comply with European rules. But how can this help with sustainability?
Green is the new black
Through discussions with my colleagues, our in-house experts, I came to understand that customs aren’t just about stopping the bad stuff—they can also be enablers of Europe’s environmental ambitions.
It’s not about rolling out a red carpet for green products or granting them a VIP pass; it’s about making sure the rules we have on paper work in practice.
With better resources for authorities and clearer obligations for importers, customs could ensure that Europe’s environmental laws aren’t just a collection of acronyms gathering dust on some policy shelf. Imagine: stronger checks at the border mean those laws—on chemicals, deforestation, or energy efficiency—start having real-world effects.
While customs alone won’t solve the challenges of greening trade, they are a central piece of the puzzle.
For consumers, this means having confidence that the products they buy won’t harm their health or the planet. For policymakers, it’s a chance to use trade as a force for good. So, as I sip my tea, I can’t help but think: if we can get this right, customs might just surprise us. They’re not glamorous, they’re not perfect, but they’re a reminder that sometimes, the most overlooked systems can have the biggest impact.
And that’s a revelation worth declaring.