The Environmental Coalition on Standards (ECOS) and the European consumer voice in standardisation(ANEC) have collaborated on a new project called "reaLIFEstandards" to bolster environmental and consumer interests in standardisation processes. The project, co-funded by the European Union's LIFE program, seeks to support Europe's clean energy transition by focusing on standards related to everyday products like heat pumps, televisions, electronic displays, and washing machines.
Standardisation holds significant sway in EU policymaking, impacting various sectors of society, and ensuring a transparent and inclusive approach to its development is crucial for a smooth energy transition. The reaLIFEstandards project, initiated just nine months after its successful launch, aims to promote sustainable practices and environmental considerations throughout the automotive aftermarket sector.
To effectively implement EU ecodesign and energy labelling regulations, strong environmental principles in ecodesign rules are paramount. The project aims to address existing regulations that may not fully consider usage patterns or use test methods reflecting real-world end-user behavior, with the goal of ensuring energy efficiency claims align with actual usage.
The project intends to empower environmental and consumer voices during the standardisation process to ensure broader representation of interests. ECOS and ANEC will actively participate in technical work within European and international standardisation organisations, contributing their expertise to foster collaboration and inclusivity.
The reaLIFEstandards project also seeks to promote capacity building, best practice sharing, and collaboration among policymakers, standardisers, and other NGOs to facilitate a cleaner energy transition, cost reduction for consumers, and stimulate innovation within the industry.
The official presentation of the initiative is scheduled for the FAAS Sustainability Day during the FuturMotive Congress on 16-18 November in Bologna. Through this project, ECOS and ANEC aim to enhance the role of environmental and consumer interests in the standardisation process, ultimately contributing to Europe's sustainable and equitable energy future.
