CEN recognizes the importance of environmental protection and sustainable development for current and future generations and therefore believes that all standards must take the environment into consideration.
Standards, whether they are product standards, service standards or process standards, all have an impact on the environment. The environmental impact of a product standard, for example, will vary according to the different stages of the lifecycle that can be distinguished (production, distribution, use and end-of-life). Standardization can play a major role in reducing environmental impacts by influencing the choices that are made in connection with the design of products and processes.
CEN faces environmental challenges posed by the operational activities of the CEN Sectors as well as by developments within the European Union.
According to the Treaty that establishes the European Community "Environmental protection requirements must be integrated into the definition and implementation of the Community policies and activities, in particular with a view to promoting sustainable development".
Standards are supporting the implementation of the EU policies and as such should also be a tool supporting the protection of the environment.
Environment is an interdisciplinary topic, therefore, all CEN sectors deal with environmental issues.
CEN has in place an organizational structure to respond to the challenges posed by the developments within the various sectors as well as by the evolution of the legislation within the European Community. The main bodies within CEN are the:
We also have
- a dedicated environmental body (Sector Forum) in the construction field to address environmental matters associated with their specific needs: the Construction Sector Network Project for the Environment (CSNPE).
- two European partners providing a particular focus on environment within standardization: the 'European Environmental Citizens Organisation for Standardisation' (ECOS), and the 'European Association for the co-ordination of consumer representation in standardisation' (ANEC).
Do you have any questions, ideas, remarks or requests? Then let us know by sending a message to environment@cencenelec.eu