Stay informed on the latest sustainability developments with this weekly update, covering pivotal shifts in environmental policy, energy efficiency, and regulatory frameworks. This week, the EU implements new rules on food contact plastics, England rolls out mandatory waste segregation for businesses, and the UK updates its carbon trading scheme. France advances eco-labelling for textiles, Italy strengthens sustainability reporting, and global momentum builds with renewed UK-China climate talks and evolving NDCs across Latin America. From emissions trading in New Zealand to Canada’s carbon tax repeal, these changes mark critical steps toward a more sustainable global economy.
A concrete regulatory update occurred with Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/351 amending several regulations on food contact materials, which went into effect on March 16, 2025 . This regulation revises rules pertaining to plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food, recycled plastic materials and articles, and good manufacturing practices for these materials . The amendments include changes to the scope of the regulation to cover plastic materials in multi-material multilayer materials, the insertion of a parameter regarding articles with repeated use to ensure no increase in migration of constituents during their lifespan, and the inclusion of an obligation to report on the label information to mitigate deterioration of the article1 . The regulation also introduces new details regarding the use of reprocessing materials and establishes that plastic materials and articles complying with the previous regulations and placed on the market before September 16, 2026, may continue to be marketed until stocks are exhausted.
https://www.sgs.com/en-us/news/2025/03/safeguards-03625-eu-revises-food-contact-material-regulations
At the national level, England introduced new recycling regulations effective from March 31, 2025, requiring businesses with 10 or more employees to separate waste into four streams: residual waste, food waste, paper/card, and dry recyclables . Smaller businesses have until March 31, 2027, to comply. This initiative is part of the UK’s broader Resources and Waste Strategy aimed at increasing recycling rates and promoting a more sustainable, circular economy . The new rules mandate waste segregation, necessitating businesses to implement systems for sorting waste and to train staff on proper separation procedures.
Game-changer for businesses: New Recycling Regulations to take effect March 2025 – News and Blogs
The UK Government made new rules for its carbon trading system, called the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS), which started on March 31, 2025. These changes include shifting the next phase of free carbon allowances for businesses from 2026 to 2027, making 2026 a special one-year period with its own rules. Details of carbon allowance trades will now be made public after a three-year delay, and some carbon data can be shared to help develop climate policies and support the Climate Change Committee. Additionally, businesses with very low emissions that started between 2021 and 2024 can now qualify for simpler rules, reducing their paperwork. These changes aim to make the system fairer and help the UK cut carbon emissions.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/124/pdfs/uksi_20250124_en.pdf
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband visited Beijing to launch renewed UK-China climate cooperation, urging China—the world’s biggest emitter—to take stronger climate action. The visit marks the first formal climate talks between the two countries in nearly eight years and supports the UK’s Plan for Change to become a clean energy superpower. Both sides agreed on pragmatic engagement, including sharing clean energy lessons and launching a formal Climate Dialogue. Miliband also addressed sensitive issues such as forced labour, human rights, and China’s support for Russia, while reaffirming the UK’s commitment to energy security and national interests.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-and-china-restart-meaningful-climate-change-dialogue
France’s Anti-Waste for a Circular Economy Law (AGEC) and Decree 2022-748 require textile companies selling in France to provide clear environmental labelling on their products. The goal is to cut textile waste by 50% by 2030 and shift toward a circular economy. Labels must disclose recycled content, production traceability, microplastic risks, and disposal guidance, with updates every quarter.
Non-compliance can lead to fines or product bans. The upcoming French Eco-score, launching fully in 2026, will rate textile products based on environmental impact. Tools like Arbor help brands automate compliance and prepare for broader EU sustainability regulations.
https://www.arbor.eco/blog/climate-impact-labels-are-launching-in-france-is-your-brand-ready
On March 10, 2025, the French Senate adopted a law proposal aligning national regulations with EU law, including amendments linked to the European Commission’s recent Sustainability Omnibus package. These changes aim to simplify the EU’s ESG framework. Key amendments include the removal of criminal sanctions for managers failing to apply certain CSRD rules and a four-year delay of CSRD reporting requirements, originally set to begin in 2025. The proposal now awaits final approval by a joint committee before becoming law.
https://www.senat.fr/leg/tas24-071.html
Italy continued its efforts to implement the EU’s sustainability reporting framework. CONSOB, the Italian Financial Market Authority, adopted amendments to the Issuers’ Regulation on sustainability reporting on March 12, 2025 . These amendments set out the procedures and terms for CONSOB’s supervision over sustainability reports published by listed companies established in Italy, aligning with the mandate under the Italian Consolidate Law on Finance .
Under the Paris Agreement, countries must update their climate action plans (NDCs) every five years, but only 21 out of 195 have submitted new ones for 2035 so far. Latin America, which contributes less than 10% of global emissions but is highly vulnerable to climate change, is lagging behind.
Brazil, Uruguay, and Ecuador are among the few in the region to submit updated plans. Brazil’s NDC, while improved, falls short of aligning with the 1.5°C goal. Uruguay kept its targets unchanged, drawing criticism, while Ecuador introduced modest, largely conditional reductions. Chile has a draft NDC under public consultation.
Other countries like Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina are still preparing theirs. Experts expect most new Latin American NDCs to be cautious rather than ambitious, though collectively they may move the world closer to the 2°C target. COP30 in Brazil this November will be a key moment for assessing progress.
he FOGO Recycling Act 2025, effective from 2 March 2025, mandates the separate collection of food and garden organics (FOGO) waste from households and businesses in NSW, with phased implementation starting in 2026. It also requires large supermarkets to record and report food donations monthly from July 2026. Businesses like supermarkets, cafes, hospitals, and schools must begin separating food waste between 2026 and 2030, depending on waste volume. From July 2030, councils must provide weekly FOGO collection to all households receiving standard waste services. The Act also establishes a FOGO advisory panel and allows for regulatory exemptions.
https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/Licensing-and-Regulation/Legislation-and-compliance/whats-new-in-law
A new study highlights that Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) are becoming key players in driving sustainability, with 92% planning to increase investments in green initiatives. Despite economic and geopolitical uncertainty, CFOs are prioritizing short-term emissions reductions and integrating sustainability into broader financial decisions, including retirement funds and investment strategies.
While most CFOs recognize the long-term value of sustainability, many still view it through a cost lens. However, 84% have updated their evaluation models to factor in the cost of inaction, signaling a shift in mindset. The report urges CFOs to lead the green transition by aligning financial strategies with environmental goals and embracing collaboration, innovation, and data-driven decision-making.
The annual process for updating the allocative baselines for New Zealand Aluminium Smelters Limited (NZAS) and NZ Steel Development Group under New Zealand’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) was underway in March 2025, with the notification of the Climate Change (Eligible Industrial Activities) Amendment Regulations 2025 anticipated in the week of March 24, 2025. These regulations adjust the amount of free allocation of New Zealand Units (NZUs) these companies receive, aiming to reflect their actual emissions intensity and maintain the incentive for emissions reductions. The 2025 update considers factors specific to each company, such as NZ Steel’s cogeneration of electricity and new electricity contracts for NZAS . This annual process demonstrates the government’s commitment to the ETS as a key mechanism for achieving its climate change targets by ensuring that major industrial emitters face appropriate carbon costs.
On March 15, 2025, the Canadian government announced regulations to eliminate the federal consumer carbon tax, effective April 1, 2025. This decision reduces fuel charge rates to zero and removes the requirement for provinces and territories to maintain consumer-facing carbon pricing. The move aligns with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s commitment to address public concerns over affordability and the divisiveness of the tax, while maintaining Canada’s industrial carbon pricing mechanisms to continue efforts in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
https://globaltaxnews.ey.com/news/2025-0728-canada-is-eliminating-consumer-carbon-tax
On World Water Day, March 22, 2025, First Nations leaders in Ontario urged federal political parties to implement the First Nations Clean Water Act (Bill C-61). Introduced in December 2023, this legislation aims to ensure safe drinking water for First Nations communities by recognizing their inherent right to self-governance over water resources. The Act seeks to replace the repealed 2013 Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act, which faced criticism for inadequate funding and lack of source water protection.