Mass Balance Chain of Custody

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Schedules Hearings on Vehicle Emissions and Renewable Energy Recycling Rules

Texas is advancing new rules for vehicle emissions inspection fees and renewable energy component recycling, with public hearings scheduled for April and May 2026. These proposals introduce significant new financial assurance and reporting obligations for the recycling sector and administrative fee adjustments for rental fleet operators.

5 Apr 2026, 18:24tceq.texas.govUnited States

NEN Publishes Amendment to NEN‑ISO 22095 on Chain‑of‑Custody Claims

The Netherlands (NEN) has published an amendment to ISO 22095, tightening the criteria for making specific product-level claims within chain-of-custody frameworks. Companies must verify that their sustainability and origin claims do not exceed the physical assurance level provided by their supply chain model to avoid greenwashing risks.

1 Apr 2026, 18:41nen.nlNetherlands

Norway Proposes Amendments To Sustainable Products Act For Renewable Fuel Sustainability Criteria (Prop. 67 L 2025–2026)

Norway has introduced a bill to amend the Sustainable Products Act, establishing a legal basis for mandatory sustainability and greenhouse gas reduction criteria for fuels. This move signals a shift toward stricter life-cycle compliance and verification requirements for fuel producers and importers, aligning Norwegian law with the EU Renewable Energy Directive.

29 Mar 2026, 05:59regjeringen.noNorwayEuropean Union

Netherlands Assesses Economic Impact of Preferred Rotterdam The Hague Airport Decision

The Dutch government has published the economic underpinning for the preferred development path of Rotterdam The Hague Airport, proposing stricter noise limits and SAF mandates that exceed EU ReFuelEU requirements. Airlines and operators face significant cost increases from accelerated fleet renewal and the requirement for 100% SAF or zero-emission propulsion for future growth capacity.

27 Mar 2026, 18:38zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

Netherlands Senate To Vote On RED III Transport Implementation Bill On 31 March 2026

The Dutch Senate is scheduled to vote on March 31, 2026, on legislation implementing the transport provisions of the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED III), which will increase national renewable energy targets for the transport sector. Fuel suppliers and transport operators face significant changes to fuel mix mandates, crediting rules for biofuels and hydrogen, and new compliance sanctions as the Netherlands aligns with EU-wide decarbonization goals.

27 Mar 2026, 07:47eerstekamer.nlNetherlandsEuropean Union

UK Finance Act 2026: Plastic Packaging Tax Reform, Vaping Products Duty and Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism

The UK Finance Act 2026 has received Royal Assent, formalising a Plastic Packaging Tax rate increase, a new Vaping Products Duty, and the implementation of the UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) starting in 2027. Businesses must prepare for increased packaging costs, complex new reporting for embodied carbon in industrial imports, and a rigorous duty-stamping regime for nicotine products.

26 Mar 2026, 18:59legislation.gov.ukUnited Kingdom

EU Notifies Draft Implementing Decision on Recycled Content in PET Beverage Bottles

The EU has notified draft rules for calculating and reporting recycled content in PET beverage bottles, with adoption expected in Q2 2026. Companies must align supply chain data with new mass-balance and certification requirements for chemical recycling to meet mandatory sustainability targets.

12 Mar 2026, 14:50epingalert.orgEuropean Union

EU JRC Policy Brief Examines Barriers And Enabling Measures For Bio-Based Plastics

The EU Joint Research Centre has identified high production costs and feedstock sustainability as the primary barriers to scaling bio-based plastics, which currently represent only 0.5% of global output. Businesses should anticipate future regulatory instruments including mandatory bio-based content shares, sector-specific fossil-based restrictions, and enhanced certification requirements for biomass sourcing.

9 Mar 2026, 15:18publications.jrc.ec.europa.euEuropean Union

Slovakia Adopts Decree 31/2026 Establishing Sustainability Criteria for Biofuels and Biomass Fuels

Slovakia has implemented Decree 31/2026, effective March 2026, setting stringent greenhouse gas (GHG) savings thresholds and sustainability criteria for biofuels, bioliquids, and biomass. Energy producers and fuel suppliers must adopt mass-balance tracking and meet escalating GHG reduction targets—reaching 80% for large plants by 2030—to ensure regulatory compliance and incentive eligibility.

6 Mar 2026, 19:41static.slov-lex.skSlovakia

European Parliament ENVI Committee Meeting to Exchange of Views on Plastics Circularity Communication

The EU is accelerating its plastics circularity agenda, signaling forthcoming end-of-waste criteria and harmonized rules for calculating recycled content. Companies should anticipate more rigorous verification requirements for recycled materials and potential revisions to the Single-Use Plastics Directive under the forthcoming Circular Economy Act.

28 Feb 2026, 13:44europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

Austria Amends Sustainable Agricultural Feedstocks Ordinance (NLAV)

Austria has updated its Sustainable Agricultural Feedstocks Ordinance (NLAV) to align with revised EU renewable energy and CAP sustainability criteria as of February 2026. Businesses must adopt stricter certification standards and mandatory electronic reporting via the Union database to ensure continued compliance for biofuel and biomass feedstocks.

25 Feb 2026, 13:54ris.bka.gv.atAustria

EU Commission Draft Delegated Decision Supplementing Waste Framework Directive On Average Loss Rates For Sorted Waste

The European Commission has proposed uniform rules for calculating 'average loss rates' to standardize how recycling targets are measured for municipal and packaging waste. This methodology will tighten data accuracy for recycling claims and EPR reporting, requiring businesses and waste operators to provide more granular mass balance data to justify performance against EU circularity targets.

19 Feb 2026, 12:00eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

Japan Adopts Amended Green Purchasing Act Basic Policy And Publishes Consultation Results

Japan has finalized amendments to the Green Purchasing Act Basic Policy (February 2026), tightening eco-friendly procurement criteria across 41 product categories and adding new requirements for carbon footprinting and mass-balance biomass. Manufacturers must align product specifications—including recycled content, energy efficiency, and sustainability labeling—with these updated standards to maintain eligibility for government contracts and meet rising market expectations for circularity.

8 Feb 2026, 06:36env.go.jpJapan

Netherlands Parliament Reviews EU Plastics Circularity, REACH Revision and Climate Resilience Ahead of Informal Environment Council

EU environment ministers are advancing the "plastic winter package," with chemical recycling mass-balance and end-of-waste rules expected to take effect by mid-2026. This progress, combined with ongoing pressure for a full REACH revision, signals a move toward mandatory recycled-content targets and more rigorous chemical compliance across the EU.

5 Feb 2026, 16:59zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlandsEuropean Union

Netherlands Submits Annotated Agenda for Informal EU Environment Ministers’ Meeting on Climate Resilience and Circular Economy Plastics Package

EU ministers are prioritizing a 'winter package' for plastics and a new climate resilience framework for 2026, aimed at stabilizing the recycled materials market. Companies should anticipate stricter recycled content mandates, finalized mass balance rules for chemical recycling, and updated safety standards for recycled food-contact plastics.

29 Jan 2026, 11:24open.overheid.nlNetherlandsEuropean Union

Netherlands Partially Approves Updated Better Biomass Certification Scheme For Biomass Categories 3–5

The Netherlands has partially approved the updated Better Biomass (BB) certification scheme, restricting its use to biomass categories 3, 4, and 5 while removing coverage for categories 1 and 2. Operators must transition to the new 2024/2025 normative documents for approved categories and secure alternative certification schemes for biomass previously covered under the lapsed categories to maintain compliance for Dutch energy applications.

8 Jan 2026, 10:56zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

Netherlands And Partners Submit Non-Paper On EU Demand Creation For Clean Steel And Chemical Products

Four EU Member States have proposed a joint strategy to create "lead markets" for low-carbon steel and chemicals through the upcoming Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act and existing product regulations. This signals a shift toward mandatory recycled-content targets, harmonized mass-balance accounting, and carbon footprint thresholds that will redefine market access and procurement for chemical and industrial value chains.

29 Dec 2025, 15:10open.overheid.nlNetherlandsEuropean Union

EU Commission Proposes Pilot Measures To Boost Circular Economy And Plastics Recycling

The EU Commission has launched a pilot package to accelerate plastic circularity, introducing harmonized end-of-waste criteria and rules for chemical recycling in beverage bottles. This signals a move toward a more integrated EU market for recycled materials, requiring producers to prepare for stricter verification standards and the upcoming 2026 Circular Economy Act.

23 Dec 2025, 14:51environment.ec.europa.euEuropean Union

Germany Publishes Draft Packaging Law Implementation Act For EU Packaging Regulation; VCI Warns Of Extra Bureaucracy

Germany has published a draft act to implement the EU PPWR, proposing to replace the current Packaging Act (VerpackG) with stricter national requirements. Companies face significant new financial levies and administrative burdens that exceed EU mandates, alongside high penalties for non-compliance with reuse targets.

22 Dec 2025, 14:41newsletter.vci.deGermanyEuropean Union

EU States Propose Demand Measures for Clean Steel and Chemicals

Four EU Member States have proposed a joint strategy to mandate demand for low-carbon chemicals and steel through harmonized 'green' definitions and expanded recycled content requirements. This signals a shift toward mandatory sustainable feedstock quotas and public procurement preferences, requiring manufacturers to accelerate the integration of biobased and recycled materials.

8 Dec 2025, 18:05zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlEuropean Union