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Stay informed with the latest updates on EU sustainability regulations and GS1 responses. AI-curated news from authoritative sources, updated daily.
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The EU is advancing the Digital Product Passport (DPP) framework, which requires standardized data sharing on product sustainability and traceability throughout the value chain. This framework is crucial for implementing sector-specific regulations like the Battery Regulation and ESPR, necessitating robust data governance. Companies must prepare to manage, exchange, and present vast amounts of product sustainability data digitally, requiring significant investment in data infrastructure and interoperability.
The European Commission published a package of measures aimed at supporting the European plastic recycling industry, responding to a joint call led by the Netherlands and several other member states. This initiative seeks to strengthen the circular economy infrastructure necessary to meet ambitious EU recycling targets. Companies must prepare for increased regulatory scrutiny on packaging design, recycled content, and waste management, directly impacting procurement and product data requirements.
The European Parliament formally adopted the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), mandating large companies to identify and mitigate adverse human rights and environmental impacts in their value chains. This final approval sets the stage for member states, including the Netherlands, to transpose the directive into national law. Companies must now prepare to implement comprehensive due diligence processes, requiring granular, auditable data on their upstream and downstream supply chain partners.
EFRAG released a report detailing the market acceptance and challenges of the Voluntary Sustainability Standard for SMEs (VSME), recommended by the European Commission. The report confirms growing awareness but identifies key barriers like limited training and the lack of a centralized digital repository for sustainability data. While voluntary, the VSME sets the foundation for future SME reporting requirements and requires standardized data exchange with larger CSRD-reporting business partners.
EFRAG submitted a Comment Letter to the ISSB regarding proposed amendments to the SASB Standards, urging greater interoperability with the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). EFRAG emphasized that the SASB standards should function as non-mandatory guidance to support materiality assessments, not create new reporting obligations. Increased alignment between global (ISSB/SASB) and EU (ESRS/CSRD) reporting frameworks reduces complexity and double reporting burdens for companies operating internationally.
Four new partners (including municipalities and waste management companies) joined the Dutch Covenant Sustainable Cleaning Vehicles, bringing the total to 26 signatories. This covenant aims for all newly purchased cleaning and waste management vehicles to be 100% emission-free by January 1, 2030. The transition to zero-emission fleets requires significant supply chain visibility, specialized equipment tracking, and verifiable data to meet national climate goals and potential future reporting requirements.
Dutch municipalities are finalizing the implementation of Zero Emission Zones (ZES) for city logistics, restricting access for polluting delivery vans and trucks starting primarily in 2025/2026. Retailers, manufacturers, and logistics providers must rapidly transition their fleet operations and logistics planning to electric vehicles or face significant disruptions and access restrictions in city centers.
The Dutch government, municipalities, and industry associations agreed on harmonized implementation rules for Zero-Emission Zones (ZEZ) introduced since January 1, 2025. Key agreements include a minimum six-month penalty-free period and a proposed one-year extension for Euro 6 delivery vans. These zones mandate the use of zero-emission commercial vehicles for last-mile logistics, directly impacting operational planning, fleet management, and supply chain efficiency for retailers and manufacturers.
The warning period for the first Zero-Emission Zones (ZEZ) in major Dutch cities (e.g., Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht) ends on June 30th, 2025. Starting July 1st, non-compliant delivery vans and trucks entering these zones will face fines, marking a shift from awareness to strict enforcement. This directly impacts last-mile logistics operations, requiring GS1 members (retailers, manufacturers, logistics providers) to immediately verify fleet compliance and potentially restructure delivery routes or update vehicle fleets.
The Dutch government announced the expansion and harmonization of exemption rules for Zero-Emission Zones (ZEZs) starting January 1, 2026. Key changes include nationwide validity for economic hardship exemptions and new specific exemptions for vehicles affected by grid congestion issues. These changes provide logistics and retail companies with greater operational flexibility and longer depreciation periods for specialized non-zero-emission vehicles operating within urban areas.
EFRAG published three new supporting guides for SMEs to assist with challenging disclosures under the Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standard for SMEs (VSME). These guides cover practices for sustainable transition (C2), GHG reduction targets (C3), and severe human rights incidents (C7). While VSME is voluntary, this guidance signals the direction of mandatory CSRD reporting and helps smaller companies prepare the data needed by their larger, mandated value chain partners.
The Netherlands is introducing a new standardized traffic sign for Zero-Emission Zones (ZEZ) and Environmental Zones (Milieuzones) effective January 1, 2026. This change standardizes the visual indication of areas where access for polluting vehicles is restricted or banned, impacting logistics planning. This regulatory update reinforces the shift towards sustainable logistics, requiring companies to verify fleet compliance and optimize routes to maintain delivery schedules in increasingly restricted urban areas.
The Dutch government has permanently adopted regulations allowing standard B driving license holders (after 2 years) to operate zero-emission commercial vehicles (ZEVs) up to 4,250 kg within the Netherlands. This measure, effective July 1st, removes the need for a C license and includes a tachograph exemption within a 100 km radius of the base. This regulatory change significantly lowers the logistical and operational barriers for businesses transitioning their heavy delivery fleets to electric vehicles, impacting last-mile delivery and supply chain efficiency.
Dutch municipalities are implementing Zero-Emission (ZE) zones, prohibiting new fossil fuel vans registered after 2025 from entering city centers. This regulatory pressure, combined with new BPM taxes on diesel vehicles, makes the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for electric vans significantly lower than diesel alternatives. Logistics providers and retailers operating in urban areas must rapidly transition their fleets to electric vehicles to maintain market access and reduce operational costs.
Dutch municipalities are implementing Zero-Emission Zones (ZEZ) starting January 1, 2025, restricting access for fossil-fuel delivery vans and trucks, with strict rules for newly registered vehicles. Existing vehicles face phased restrictions based on emission class, requiring businesses to verify vehicle compliance and apply for necessary exemptions. These zones directly impact supply chain logistics, requiring immediate fleet transition planning, route optimization, and enhanced data exchange regarding vehicle specifications and planned deliveries.
The Netherlands has implemented Zero-Emission Zones (ZE-zones) in several city centers, requiring logistics operators to transition their delivery fleets to zero-emission vehicles. A national initiative, 'Doe het met data,' is offered to help companies analyze existing track-and-trace data to determine the frequency of their vehicles entering these zones. Logistics providers and retailers relying on road transport must quantify the impact of these zones to plan fleet replacement strategies, impacting operational costs and delivery efficiency.
The Dutch Authority for Financial Markets (AFM) issued guidance on Product Oversight & Governance (POG) and suitability assessments, emphasizing the need to match investor sustainability preferences with product characteristics. While acknowledging progress, the AFM stressed that compliance needs improvement, particularly regarding the accurate and consistent communication of ESG attributes. Manufacturers and retailers must ensure the sustainability claims provided to financial service providers (and consumers) are accurate, verifiable, and consistently maintained throughout the supply chain to meet financial regulatory scrutiny.
EFRAG (European Financial Reporting Advisory Group) announced a Sustainability Reporting Board (SRB) webcast meeting scheduled for December 2025. This continuous engagement by EFRAG indicates ongoing development and refinement of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), which are mandatory under CSRD for large companies.
GS1 is promoting the use of QR codes to track products and manage inventory, which can significantly reduce food waste by improving supply chain visibility. This technology facilitates the sharing of detailed product information, aligning with emerging EU requirements for digital data carriers. Companies must prepare for the mandatory use of digital identifiers to comply with upcoming EU regulations focused on product sustainability and data transparency.
A company's global launch utilizing GS1-standardized QR codes suggests early preparation for digital product identification requirements. While not direct regulatory news, this technological adoption aligns with the upcoming mandates for digital data carriers on products. Companies adopting GS1 standards now are positioning themselves for compliance with future EU regulations like the Digital Product Passport and Ecodesign requirements.