ISEAL welcomes the Clean Industrial Deal (CID) announced by the EU Commission recently. This joint roadmap for competitiveness and decarbonisation is an important commitment. However, it’s vital that the Commission emphasises clarity, policy coherence and effective support measures in implementing the CID.

As a non-legislative initiative, the CID sets out the policy direction to meet Europe’s decarbonisation goals whilst boosting competitiveness and consumer demand for clean products. The CID will be the framework under which new legislative measures, such as the Circular Economy Act and the Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act, will be introduced over the coming years.

“ISEAL welcomes the CID’s continued policy emphasis on decarbonisation in Europe. The Deal also makes important commitments to taking circularity further and bridging the funding gap for innovation and clean tech.

“We’re also encouraged to see the Commission move ahead with purpose on tackling the climate crisis, at a time when other governments are backtracking these efforts,” said Kristin Komives, Director of Programmes, ISEAL.

As a thought leader on credible sustainability practice, ISEAL urges the Commission to focus on clarity, policy coherence and effective support measures as it moves to implement the CID. It is key to ensure policy coherence and alignment across member states, to prevent fragmented regulatory approaches that could undermine market competitiveness.

Strengthening administrative capacity is needed to enable efficient monitoring, enforcement and adaptation of sustainability policies at national and regional levels. The Commission must prioritise stakeholder engagement and transparency, to ensure balanced and inclusive policy implementation.

Credible sustainability systems and the CID

Credible sustainability systems, such as voluntary standards and certification, offer a valuable mechanism to help industries comply with EU sustainability policies while emphasising environmental and social integrity.

They define sustainability frameworks and clear criteria, which help supply chain actors understand and act on climate targets and goals, in a holistic and inclusive manner. They also have been used successfully within EU policy to support the transition to biofuels and implementation of renewable energy directives.

As the EU fast-tracks its clean industrial objectives, we believe that credible sustainability systems can play an essential role in bridging the gap between achieving sustainability commitments and maintaining business competitiveness.

Credible sustainability systems offer practical tools to achieve legislative compliance and go further, while supporting credible and consistent policy implementation across industries. They also take a holistic approach to sustainability and can help navigate the trade-offs inherent in competing environmental goals, such as energy efficiency versus the use of bio-based inputs.

By recognising and leveraging voluntary standards to their full potential, Europe can maintain its position as a global leader in sustainable supply chains, green industrial innovation and environmental responsibility. A successful industrial transition must reinforce sustainability without compromising environmental and social values.