The first climate-neutral continent

The European "Green Deal"

Green Deal

Digitalisation enables environmental protection

The European Green Deal aims to make Europe climate-neutral by 2050. To make this target legally binding, the Commission has presented the European Climate Law. This also includes a new, more ambitious target to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.
The following initiatives, regulations, directives and laws serve to implement the ‘Green Deal’

EU Regulations

Regulations apply uniformly and automatically in all EU countries when they enter into force. They therefore do not need to be transposed into national law.

EU Taxonomy Regulation (EUTAX)

The EU taxonomy is a transparency tool for companies and investors that makes sustainable activities comparable.
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Net Zero Industry Act

The Net Zero Industry Act is intended to ensure that more clean technologies are produced in the EU.
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Effort Sharing Regulation

National emission reduction targets are defined in the Effort Sharing Regulation.
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EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)

EU regulation on the making available on the market of certain products associated with deforestation and forest degradation.
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Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR)

The SFDR is intended to make sustainable investing more transparent and simpler.
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Textile Labelling Regulation

The Textile Labelling Regulation regulates fibre labelling and the labelling of products of animal origin.
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Recycling Building Materials Regulation

The Austrian regulation specifies requirements that must be met when demolishing structures.
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EU Construction Products Regulation (CPR)

The CPR creates harmonised conditions for the marketing of construction products throughout the EU.
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EU Battery Regulation (BATT2)

The battery regulation covers the entire life cycle of the battery, as well as the establishment of the digital battery passport
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Ecodesign for Suistainable Products Regulation (ESPR)

The ESPR is intended to ensure that only durable, repairable and energy-efficient products are traded.
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EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)

The CBAM ensures that imports are subject to the same emission prices as products produced in the EU.
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REACh regulation (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals)

REACh was introduced to ensure a comprehensive level of protection for the trade and use of chemicals in Europe.
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Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation (CLP)

The CLP Regulation is an international system for the classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures.
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Directives

A target to be achieved by the EU countries is defined in a directive. In order to achieve these targets, each country must enact its own legal regulation.

Energy Taxation Directive

The Energy Taxation Directive contains provisions for the taxation of energy products and electricity.
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Renewable Energy Directive (RED III)

The directive aims to obtain 32% of energy from renewable sources by 2030.
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Emissions Trading Directive (EHS I)

This directive obliges companies to hold an emissions certificate for every tonne of CO₂ emitted.
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Industrial Emissions Directive (IED)

The Industrial Emissions Directive is the most important EU instrument for regulating pollution from industrial plants.
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Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition

The directive protects consumers from misleading environmental claims and unfair claims.
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Energy Efficiency Directive (EED III)

Energy efficiency must be taken into account by EU countries in all decisions in the energy and non-energy sectors.
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Right to Repair (R2R)

The Right to Repair is intended to facilitate the repair of defective products and promote sustainable consumption.
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EU Packaging Directive

The focus here is on the entire life cycle of the packaging, sustainability and recyclability.
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Directive on Sustainability Reporting

The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) sets out uniform, mandatory European reporting standards.
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EPBD - Energy Performance of Buildings Directive

This directive aims to make the building sector in the EU more climate-neutral by 2050.
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OIB Guideline 7

The OIB Guideline 7 covers the sustainable use of natural resources in the building sector.
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EU Waste Framework Directive

The EU Waste Framework Directive defines when certain waste is no longer considered waste.
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Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD)

The supply chain guideline aims to improve social and ecological standards along global activity chains.
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Laws

Laws are rules that apply to all people in a country or state.

The Critical Raw Material Act

The Critical Raw Material Act is intended to strengthen domestic supply chains and promote partnerships.
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Nature Restoration Law

The Nature Restoration Law is intended to restore threatened ecosystems to a good state.
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The European Climate Law

The legal anchoring of the goal of making the European economy and society climate-neutral by 2050.
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Strategies, initiatives

Strategies and initiatives serve as a guideline for action that defines the concrete steps, responsibilities and also a time frame for implementation.

Digital Building Logbook

The consolidation of building data in a central data repository to facilitate the exchange of information.
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European Industrial Strategy

It is intended to make EU industry more competitive worldwide and strengthen Europe's open strategic autonomy.
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EU Biodiversity Strategy

The EU Biodiversity Strategy aims to protect biodiversity and reduce further losses.
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EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability

The Chemicals Strategy aims to better protect citizens and the environment from harmful chemicals.
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klimaaktiv

klimaaktiv makes the quality of buildings measurable and comparable.
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Farm to Fork Strategy

The EU's main aim is to make food healthier and more sustainable with its ‘Farm to Fork’ Strategy.
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The naBe Action Plan for Sustainable Public Procurement in Austria

The naBe action plan regulates how and in what quality the public sector makes purchases.
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EU Circular Economy Action Plan

Initiatives that affect the entire life cycle of products and are designed to protect the environment.
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EU Action Plan for Pollution-free Air, Water and Soil

Strive for the 2050 vision of minimising pollution so that it no longer poses a risk to health and the environment.
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European Climate Pact

The European Climate Pact invites everyone to participate in climate protection and make Europe greener.
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The New European Bauhaus (NEB)

The NEB is a movement that combines sustainability, aesthetics and inclusivity.
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Renovation Wave

The EU Commission wants to at least double the renovation rate over the next ten years and ensure greater efficiency.
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'Fit for 55'

'Fit for 55' contains proposals for revising and updating EU legislation and proposals for new initiatives.
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Methods

The Green Deal comprises various methods and certifications that help companies to operate more sustainably and achieve climate targets.

EU Ecolabel

The aim is to help consumers identify more environmentally friendly and healthier products and services.
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Level(s)

Level(s) is an assessment and reporting tool for the sustainability performance of buildings.
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ESG Certifications

ESG certification is a process in which the company is reviewed with regard to ESG aspects.
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Natureplus

natureplus eco-label is awarded to building products that conserve resources, protect the climate and are healthy to live in.
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Eco-index OI3

OI3 assesses the ecological quality of materials on the basis of environmental indicators.
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Ecolabels and Environmental Declarations

Environmental labels according to ISO 14025 characterise products with high environmental performance and strict requirements.
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IBO Certification Mark for Construction Products

The Austrian Institute for Building Biology and Ecology promotes sustainable architecture and tests building products quality.
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ÖGNI

The ÖGNI is a non-governmental organization dedicated to establishing sustainability in the construction & real estate industry.
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klimaaktiv

klimaaktiv is the climate protection initiative of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water
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Blue Angel

The Blue Angel certification characterises environmentally friendly products and services.
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DGNB

DGNB certification assesses buildings in terms of their ecological, economic, social and functional sustainability.
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LEED

LEED certification is an internationally recognised system for evaluating environmentally friendly and sustainable buildings
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BREEAM

BREEAM certification is an internationally recognised system for assessing the sustainability of buildings.
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Funds

With the Just Transition Fund, the EU is promoting climate-neutral investments in growth and support to support the transition to climate neutrality.

Just Transition Fund JTF

The JTF aims to ensure that the transition to a climate-neutral economy is fair.
Find out more
The EU taxonomy is a transparency tool for companies and investors that makes sustainable activities comparable. Find out more
The Net Zero Industry Act is intended to ensure that more clean technologies are produced in the EU. Find out more
National emission reduction targets are defined in the Effort Sharing Regulation. Find out more
EU regulation on the making available on the market of certain products associated with deforestation and forest degradation. Find out more
The SFDR is intended to make sustainable investing more transparent and simpler. Find out more
The Textile Labelling Regulation regulates fibre labelling and the labelling of products of animal origin. Find out more
The Austrian regulation specifies requirements that must be met when demolishing structures. Find out more
The CPR creates harmonised conditions for the marketing of construction products throughout the EU. Find out more
The battery regulation covers the entire life cycle of the battery, as well as the establishment of the digital battery passport Find out more
The ESPR is intended to ensure that only durable, repairable and energy-efficient products are traded. Find out more
The CBAM ensures that imports are subject to the same emission prices as products produced in the EU. Find out more
REACh was introduced to ensure a comprehensive level of protection for the trade and use of chemicals in Europe. Find out more
The CLP Regulation is an international system for the classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures. Find out more
The Energy Taxation Directive contains provisions for the taxation of energy products and electricity. Find out more
The directive aims to obtain 32% of energy from renewable sources by 2030. Find out more
This directive obliges companies to hold an emissions certificate for every tonne of CO₂ emitted. Find out more
The Industrial Emissions Directive is the most important EU instrument for regulating pollution from industrial plants. Find out more
The directive protects consumers from misleading environmental claims and unfair claims. Find out more
Energy efficiency must be taken into account by EU countries in all decisions in the energy and non-energy sectors. Find out more
The Right to Repair is intended to facilitate the repair of defective products and promote sustainable consumption. Find out more
The focus here is on the entire life cycle of the packaging, sustainability and recyclability. Find out more
The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) sets out uniform, mandatory European reporting standards. Find out more
This directive aims to make the building sector in the EU more climate-neutral by 2050. Find out more
The OIB Guideline 7 covers the sustainable use of natural resources in the building sector. Find out more
The EU Waste Framework Directive defines when certain waste is no longer considered waste. Find out more
The supply chain guideline aims to improve social and ecological standards along global activity chains. Find out more
The Critical Raw Material Act is intended to strengthen domestic supply chains and promote partnerships. Find out more
The Nature Restoration Law is intended to restore threatened ecosystems to a good state. Find out more
The legal anchoring of the goal of making the European economy and society climate-neutral by 2050. Find out more
The consolidation of building data in a central data repository to facilitate the exchange of information. Find out more
It is intended to make EU industry more competitive worldwide and strengthen Europe's open strategic autonomy. Find out more
The EU Biodiversity Strategy aims to protect biodiversity and reduce further losses. Find out more
The Chemicals Strategy aims to better protect citizens and the environment from harmful chemicals. Find out more
klimaaktiv makes the quality of buildings measurable and comparable. Find out more
The EU's main aim is to make food healthier and more sustainable with its ‘Farm to Fork’ Strategy. Find out more
The naBe action plan regulates how and in what quality the public sector makes purchases. Find out more
Initiatives that affect the entire life cycle of products and are designed to protect the environment. Find out more
Strive for the 2050 vision of minimising pollution so that it no longer poses a risk to health and the environment. Find out more
The European Climate Pact invites everyone to participate in climate protection and make Europe greener. Find out more
The NEB is a movement that combines sustainability, aesthetics and inclusivity. Find out more
The EU Commission wants to at least double the renovation rate over the next ten years and ensure greater efficiency. Find out more
'Fit for 55' contains proposals for revising and updating EU legislation and proposals for new initiatives. Find out more
The aim is to help consumers identify more environmentally friendly and healthier products and services. Find out more
Level(s) is an assessment and reporting tool for the sustainability performance of buildings. Find out more
ESG certification is a process in which the company is reviewed with regard to ESG aspects. Find out more
natureplus eco-label is awarded to building products that conserve resources, protect the climate and are healthy to live in. Find out more
OI3 assesses the ecological quality of materials on the basis of environmental indicators. Find out more
Environmental labels according to ISO 14025 characterise products with high environmental performance and strict requirements. Find out more
The Austrian Institute for Building Biology and Ecology promotes sustainable architecture and tests building products quality. Find out more
The ÖGNI is a non-governmental organization dedicated to establishing sustainability in the construction & real estate industry. Find out more
klimaaktiv is the climate protection initiative of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Find out more
The Blue Angel certification characterises environmentally friendly products and services. Find out more
DGNB certification assesses buildings in terms of their ecological, economic, social and functional sustainability. Find out more
LEED certification is an internationally recognised system for evaluating environmentally friendly and sustainable buildings Find out more
BREEAM certification is an internationally recognised system for assessing the sustainability of buildings. Find out more
The JTF aims to ensure that the transition to a climate-neutral economy is fair. Find out more

Ecodesign Forum according to Ecodesign Regulation ESPR

In accordance with Article 19 of the Ecodesign Regulation (ESPR), the European Commission has set up an Ecodesign Forum with experts appointed by the Member States for the product groups in question for the development of ecodesign requirements, work plans, market surveillance, self-regulation and the ban on the destruction of unsold products, thereby making an important contribution to the implementation of the ‘Green Deal’. You can apply for participation here:
Register of Commission expert groups
Digitalisation enables environmental protection

The Digital Product Passport

The call for ever lower prices has meant that other factors such as sustainability have long been ignored in production. There are now many products on the market that only have a short shelf life and are difficult to recycle. This has major disadvantages for people and the environment.

The introduction of the Digital Product Passport is planned in order to bring the aspect of sustainability back into focus. The basis for this is the European Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP). It is also a funded flagship project as part of the ‘Data Service Ecosystem for the Digital Product Passport’ call for proposals from the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG).

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Digitalisation enables environmental protection

„If the lifespan of all smartphones in the EU were increased by just one year, this would save 2.1 million tonnes of CO₂ per year by 2030. That's just as effective as taking 1 million cars off the road."
- Ilias Iakovidis, Digital Product Passport - Perspective of the European Commission