Revision of the Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC
On 16 February 2022, the European Parliament has approved a report to update the EU’s Toy Safety Directive, which dates back to 2009. The report highlights the problems that chemicals, connected toys and online toy sales pose for toy safety. The European Commission’s public consultation is open from 2 March to 25 May 2022.
Source: EP News
Directive on corporate sustainability due diligence
On 23 February 2022, the Commission adopted a proposal for a Directive on corporate sustainability due diligence. The aim of this Directive is to foster sustainable and responsible corporate behaviour and to anchor human rights and environmental considerations in companies’ operations and corporate governance. The new rules will ensure that businesses address adverse impacts of their actions, including in their value chains inside and outside Europe. The proposal will now go to the European Parliament and the Council for approval.
Source: European Commission
EP Committee on Legal Affairs vote on Amending Directive 2013/34/EU, Directive 2004/109/EC, Directive 2006/43/EC and Regulation (EU) No 537/2014, as regards corporate
sustainability reporting (COD)
On 15 March 2022, the Legal Affairs Committee adopted its position on the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) with 22 votes in favour and one against. If agreed
with EU governments, the bill will make businesses more accountable for their impact on people and the planet, while giving investors and the public access to comparable, reliable and easily
accessible information on sustainability.
Source: EP News
26-30 September 2022: Sustainable Energy Week
The European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) brings together public authorities, private companies, projects, NGOs and consumers to promote initiatives to save energy and move towards renewables for clean, secure and efficient energies.
Info: https://www.eusew.eu/
17 March 2022 – Discrimination and surveillance: can the EU Artificial Intelligence Act fix injustice?
The Open Society European Policy Institute and European Digital Rights (EDRi) invite you to join us on a deep dive with EU policy-makers, academic and civil society experts. The virtual conference will explore how the Artificial Intelligence Act can be a positive force in Europe towards protecting people’s human rights and delivering social justice.
Info and registration: EURACTIV
22 March 2022 – Together to make stronger Standards for Europe: how can you cooperate with CEN and CENELEC?
The webinar will explore CEN and CENELEC Cooperation with European Organizations and other stakeholders, providing an overview of the Cooperation categories described in the revised CEN-CENELEC Guide 25 (2022), the rights of Partners and Liaisons in the system, as well as a testimonial from their European Partner APPLiA – Home Appliance Europe – on the benefits of the long-lasting collaboration with CEN and CENELEC.
Info and registration: CEN-CENELEC
New Commission Implementing Regulation on the monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions
The Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/388 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2066 on the monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council was published on the EU Official Journal.
Source: EUR-Lex
MEPs want more environmental and social ambition for batteries
The European Parliament is ready to negotiate with EU governments on the final shape of the new rules governing the entire battery product life cycle, from design to end-of-life.
Source: NEWEUROPE
Green Hydrogen Needs Industrial Policy Making and Certification – IRENA
With its ability to decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors like chemicals and steelmaking industries, green hydrogen is expected to be in high demand as countries are racing to achieve their net zero targets. However, the current green hydrogen market is at an infant stage and more needs to be done, especially from the policy makers’ side, to maximise green hydrogen’s impact in the decarbonising of the industrial sector and end-use sectors as a whole.
Source: EE online
REPowerEU: Joint European action for more affordable, secure and sustainable energy
The European Commission proposed an outline of a plan to make Europe independent from Russian fossil fuels well before 2030, starting with gas, in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
This plan also outlines a series of measures to respond to rising energy prices in Europe and to replenish gas stocks for next winter.
Source: EE online
Scientists Show Large Impact of Controlling Humidity on Greenhouse Gas Emissions – National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Greenhouse gas emissions from air conditioners are expected to climb as economic growth drives efforts to control both temperature and humidity, according to an analysis by scientists from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Xerox PARC.
Source: EE online
Lab of the Future news
New Model of a Fundamental Process of Earth’s Global Dynamics Developed
For the first time, it was possible to simulate in three dimensions one of the most common processes of formation of new subduction zones, ensuring that all forces are dynamically and realistically modelled, including Earth’s own gravity.
Source: Lab Manager
World’s First Distortion-Free Stretchable Micro-LED Meta-Display Technology
The Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM), an institute under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Science and ICT, has successfully developed a new stretchable meta-display technology that can be stretched up to 25 percent without image distortion, for the first time in the world.
Source: Lab Manager
Scientists at CNRS using INTEGRA’s VOYAGER to speed up their HIV research
VOYAGER adjustable tip spacing pipette increases productivity in a real-life situation. INTEGRA Biosciences’ VOYAGER adjustable tip spacing pipettes save time and improve lab productivity, and the company has created a testimonial video showcasing the pipette’s many useful features.
Source: Lab Bulletin
Bacteria upcycle carbon waste into valuable chemicals
Researchers engineered a strain of bacteria to break down carbon dioxide (CO2), converting it into commonly used chemicals. The approach removes CO2 from the atmosphere and bypasses using fossil fuels to generate these chemicals. The carbon-negative platform could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 160% and CO2 transform the bioeconomy.
Source: Laboratory News
21 April 2022: Lab Innovations South – Powering laboratory research for the life sciences
Lab Innovations South is a new dedicated one-day event for laboratory professionals working within life sciences sectors in the golden triangle. It is the sister event for the UK’s leading laboratory exhibition, Lab Innovations. The event will bring together 300 of the UK’s leading Life Sciences researchers and laboratory decision-makers from in and around the Golden Triangle, for a full day of knowledge-sharing, discovery, learning and networking.
