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Simplify construction processes, but never compromise on standards

Ahead of the CBAM’s planned extension proposal at the end of 2025, VDMA has updated its position paper on CBAM calling for its abolition.

Courage to act and reliability are crucial in the context of the EU sustainability omnibus package. EU policy must finally implement a tangible reduction in bureaucracy for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Since August 2025, the EU Battery Regulation has brought with it new obligations in the context of extended producer responsibility. The new requirements were highlighted and discussed

The EU Council needs an agreement on the 2040 climate target so that Europe can continue to play a leading role in climate protection. It is therefore all the more important that a clear position is adopted quickly.

Fresh ideas for green factories: Liebherr wins the VDMA Award 2025 - young talents show how climate protection succeeds in mechanical engineering.

How can Europe's mechanical engineering industry remain competitive? Part 1 of our series of discussions on the summit shows which trends are shaping the industry - and how the VDMA is providing guidance.

The planned EU Deforestation Regulation urgently needs to be revised and its launch postponed by at least two years. It is poorly crafted and bureaucracy at its best, criticizes the VDMA in a letter to the Commission.

New INTERREG call: Over 38 million euros in EU funding for cross-border projects in NRW, Belgium and the Netherlands - focus on green transformation and future topics.

A Strategic Push for Industrial and Green Transformation (Part 1: Key Aspects of the Policy)

With the ‘Sustainability Talks’, the VDMA is organising a web series on current and relevant sustainability topics for the mechanical and plant engineering industry. You can find an overview of the topics and dates here.

Together with practitioners from industry, the Baden-Württemberg Industry 4.0 Alliance has formulated low-threshold measures for climate-neutral production. These are intended to facilitate the transition in companies.

The ECHA has published a proposal to restrict chromium(VI) substances. Comments on this proposal can be submitted as part of a public consultation. The VDMA asks affected companies to participate.

The Chemicals Package includes the 6th Omnibus (‘Chemicals’), a proposal to provide ECHA with additional resources and an action plan, including ‘Providing Clarity on PFAS’.

The European Union remains ambitious in climate protection with a new emissions reduction target for 2040.

The EU wants to remain ambitious on climate protection. An ambitious target is the right thing to do, but it requires simple legislation and sufficient investment.

The EU Commission announced that it would simplify the rules on State aid in order to promote the development of clean energy, decarbonization and net-zero technologies.

The EU omnibus package is intended to significantly reduce the bureaucratic burden on companies. Now the package must no longer be torpedoed. Bureaucracy must not become an obstacle to innovation.

Nine major business associations from Germany have issued a joint appeal warning that progress on cutting red tape in Europe should not be jeopardized.

The CO2 border adjustment mechanism CBAM is being simplified and many small companies will be exempt. An important step - but only a temporary solution.

The VDMA regulatory cockpit provides you with a central, practical overview of current and upcoming regulations. It helps you identify relevant information at an early stage, evaluate it strategically, and derive concrete measures.

The EU omnibus package is intended to significantly reduce the burden on companies. This applies in particular to the limitation of due diligence obligations to direct business partners. The EU must not be dissuaded from this course.

The first year under the EU Battery Regulation - The new German Battery Law Implementing Act (BattDG): What do producers and manufacturers need to consider?

Under the headline “The new EU Packaging Regulation – What does this mean for the mechanical engineering industry?”, the VDMA held an online event on May 27, 2025. Here are the key points in brief.

ECHA has been tasked by the European Commission to develop a proposal for the restriction of various chromium(VI) substances. The proposal was published at the end of April 2025 and can be commented on from mid-June.

The CO2 border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) should be simplified. This is also urgently needed: Small and medium-sized companies in particular must be exempted.

The Centre for European Policy provides a good overview of the current state of the German energy sector with reference to natural gas and hydrogen as important energy sources and formulates recommendations for policy makers

The new Clean Industrial Deal seeks to answer the industry calls for competitiveness as the successor of the EU Green Deal?

Good news from Brussels: the suspension of several reporting obligations gives companies the capacity to act in order to focus on important areas of transformation.

In economically difficult times, the VDMA supports its members with valuable information and personal advice. Together we will find the right course and strengthen the resilience of the companies.

With the omnibus proposal, the EU Commission plans to simplify ESG regulations, reduce bureaucracy and optimize sustainability reporting - we analyze the latest developments.

Have you already calculated your company's climate footprint and defined ambitious climate targets? But what specific measures can a company take to achieve these goals?

Emissions trading is the lead instrument for climate protection. EU countries are using additional instruments to achieve further targets. An IMPULS study examines the challenges of the instrument mix.

At the end of November 2024, the European Court of Justice ruled that the "customer installation" grid category is unlawful.

The EU wants to noticeably relieve companies of the bureaucratic costs associated with CBAM. This is a welcome relief for many small and medium-sized companies.

On 26 February, the European Commission published the omnibus proposal on sustainability. The EU Commission is thus responding to the concerns of the overburdened economy and strengthening competitiveness.

The objectives of the Clean Industrial Deal are fundamentally correct. However, EU policy must urgently improve the conditions in Europe across the board. Not only the symptoms of crisis industries must be treated.

The modern production world depends crucially on a secure and equally modern energy supply. The variety of solution ideas will be presented at Hannover Messe.

We have sat down and compiled an overview for you of the prizes and awards available, the structures and cost models behind them and how they are perceived and received by the public.

The VDMA has addressed extensive demands to politicians. What do the parties think? Our overview shows the extent to which the mechanical and plant engineering industry is taken into account in the programs for the federal election on February 23, 2025.

In the IEA's 2024 "Energy Technology Perspectives" report, the agency looks at global market developments in green technologies and the resilience of their production chains.

The VDMA is calling for reliable framework conditions for growth and competitiveness in Germany in 2025. Together we can master the challenges of the future. You can find the details in the economic policy positions for 2025.

With the Omnibus Regulation, Commission President von der Leyen wants to consolidate, reduce and simplify various ESG reporting obligations. The VDMA welcomes the initiative and is submitting specific proposals for improvement.

Under the name "Forever Lobbying Project", media partners from 16 countries have joined forces to research the topic of PFAS. The rather one-sided findings are currently being published in various countries.

2025 is the last year before CBAM’s full implementation, what are the latest developments EU companies need to consider?

The mechanical and plant engineering sector is at the forefront of driving the sustainable transformation. To remain competitive, companies must be relieved of red tape, and ESG requirements must be implemented in a practical manner.

The transformation to climate neutrality presents a significant competitive opportunity for Germany and Europe. To fully capitalize on this potential, emissions trading and climate protection technologies must be designed effectively.

The workshop series of the Effizienz-Agentur NRW (efa) provides practical support for the NRW mechanical and plant engineering industry when entering into circular business models - this offers enormous potential even in times of crisis.

The call for sector specific sustainability benchmarks has increased as mechanical engineering companies come under pressure from legislation and customers to report their sustainability impact.

Many mechanical engineering companies supply the technologies needed for a circular economy. This makes it all the more important that the EU and the future German government seriously pursue a circular economy policy.

In the dispute over the regulation of PFAS, ECHA is signaling initial openness to alternatives to a comprehensive ban. For the industries in Europe that rely on PFAS, this is a cautious signal in the right direction.

The COP29 climate conference in Baku has opened the way to a global carbon market - but postponed crucial questions on financing global climate protection. Small steps, but not nearly enough.

The agreement reached at the COP climate conference on a voluntary global carbon market is a milestone. It has the potential to accelerate the global use of particularly efficient technologies to avoid emissions.

AMT was founded as a new working group within the VDMA in November 2024. Its Managing Director Daniel Erdmann explains the background in an interview.

VDMA AMT - Advanced Maritime Technology Platform is the new network for automation and digitalization in maritime shipping.

The ‘Circular Production NRW’ funding programme is supporting innovative projects for sustainable, resource-efficient and circular value creation in SMEs with 21 million euros.

EU substance policy is bringing about far-reaching regulatory changes that will have a lasting impact on mechanical and plant engineering - we have shed light on the challenges and prospects.

The COP29 world climate conference is taking place in Baku (Azerbaijan) from November 11 to 29. Find out here what topics will be discussed there and how the results could affect the mechanical and plant engineering sector.

Climate protection needs sufficient resources - both financially and technologically. The climate conference in Baku must set the right course for this.

On October 29, the European Commission hosted a webinar explaining the application process for strategic recognition of manufacturing projects under the Net-Zero Industry Act.

HAINBUCH has created a sustainable recycling solution for paper, plastics and corundum waste. Through optimized collection and pick-up cycles, we promote recycling, reduce emissions and conserve resources.

On August 29, Germany published its updated national energy and climate plan. In these plans, each EU member state provides comprehensive information on its national energy and climate policy for the next 10 years.

LASCO's measure includes the installation of a solar system with 3,692 modules, which means that the solar power capacity exceeds the megawatt threshold for the first time. The aim is to sustainably cover energy consumption and reduce CO₂ emissions.

SORG CLEAN Melter® - a new melting tank technology for decarbonizing the glass industry

To implement our sustainability strategy, project teams consisting of over 50 "sustainability ambassadors" have been established. All areas of the company are actively involved in the process.

The DESMA PCF Navigator helps to significantly optimize the carbon footprint of elastomer articles

Use of (green) hydrogen as an alternative heating medium to natural gas for energy-efficient use in textile finishing plants (drying plants). The use of hydrogen contributes to climate protection.

District heating generation with multi-stage large-scale turbocompressor heat pump

The German Emissions Trading Authority (DEHSt) provides information on the possibility for companies to provide evidence of their efforts to obtain data on CBAM goods and the use of its discretionary powers in the assessment of CBAM reports

As part of the Green Deal Industrial Plan, the Net-Zero Industry Act is now in force aiming at boosting green manufacturing in Europe. Which technologies will be favoured? And how is resilience secured?

In the ESRS project group, members have exchanged views on questions relating to the reporting requirements under CSRD (prior to the Omnibus I revision). The VDMA is making the preliminary final status of the discussion available to its members as a Q&A.

With the new Ecodesign Regulation and the establishment of a digital product passport, the EU Commission has set an important milestone under the Green Deal. The mechanical engineering sector will already be affected by the new requirements in the short term.

The VDMA publishes the first benchmark for industry-wide materiality in accordance with the European Sustainable Reporting Standard (ESRS) of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

With its new building in Waldkraiburg, NETZSCH Pumpen & Systeme GmbH is setting new standards in terms of climate protection and sustainability. The global specialist for complex fluid management aims to achieve complete climate neutrality by 2045.

The use of recyclable or reusable packaging not only makes ecological sense, but also saves direct costs. Reducing packaging sizes offers additional efficiency potential for companies.

Losses in the compressed air systems of manufacturing companies often lead to unnecessarily high energy costs. More energy-efficient systems and preventive diagnostic and maintenance measures save money.

Creating a heating and ventilation concept in conjunction with an autonomous control system can reduce CO2 emissions throughout the company.

On 1st October 2023 the transitional phase and first reporting period of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) began.

The PIK article published in the magazine "nature" calculates the economic losses of climate change up to the year 2100.

Training employees to become energy scouts can help to identify hidden efficiency potential in companies and thus reduce costs.

Heat losses in company buildings contribute to higher energy bills and thus also to a higher greenhouse gas emissions balance for the company.

This measure contributes to the optimization of building efficiency by reducing the building area to be managed.

The continuous replacement of existing conventional light sources is a low-threshold measure to improve the energy efficiency of buildings.

In a study, the Federal Environment Agency examined the potential and obstacles to carpooling in Germany. It was found that these solutions "are an essential component of environmentally-oriented mobility management.

Millions around the world are suffering from water shortages. Mechanical engineering offers innovative solutions for efficient water use and treatment.

Together with member companies, the VDMA has developed training documents from October 2023 to spring 2024 that can be used to raise awareness of human rights risks in your own company and supply chain.

In our interview with Hans-Josef Fell, we shed light on Germany's untapped hydropower potential. According to the Energy Watch Group, the whole of eastern Germany could be supplied with renewable electricity if hydropower were optimally utilized.

The strategic integration of sustainability reporting obligations in companies is becoming increasingly important, as the increasing transparency requirements will affect a large proportion of SMEs in the future.

In a world where the search for sustainable energy sources is becoming increasingly urgent, hydropower is making a comeback as one of the oldest and most reliable forms of energy generation.

Traditionally, production halls are supplied with alternating current from the public power grid. However, switching to direct current would have a number of advantages.

The more material - for example metals or plastics - that is not part of the final product, the higher the total material consumption and the higher the total greenhouse gas emissions.

On March 15, 2023, the Federal Cabinet adopted a National Water Strategy for Germany. This strategy and the action program lay the foundation for the sustainable management of water resources and water protection.

The energy efficiency of your own production equipment, such as machine tools, can be improved by measuring and visualizing electricity consumption.

Enabling more climate-friendly commuting for employees

The International Space Station (ISS) as a pioneer.

Water crisis in Europe: How mechanical engineering and the circular economy offer a solution. Which technologies are crucial? What role does digitalization play?

ProduktionNRW looks at different areas of the transformation megatrend. Practical examples from the mechanical and plant engineering sector are used to show how implementation can succeed and which success factors are important.

The good news first: industry is using less and less water. Technologies and innovative system approaches are needed to reduce it even further and at the same time avoid waste water.

The value of water is still underestimated. This applies to water as an elixir of life and to water in the context of industry.

The IEA's latest report on the development of global electricity markets with a short-term forecast for the next two years on technologies, infrastructure and price developments.

Workshop on 10.6 & 11.06 at VDMA in Frankfurt - Recycling of rotor blades

The European Sustainable Finance Taxonomy Regulation aims to define what environmentally sustainable economic activities are and thus create a standardized classification system within the EU.

Do you combine environmental protection with economic success? Show it in the Environmental Business Award.NRW 2024 and submit your application by April 30, 2024!

QM Corner stands for one topic, one hour and virtual. The established format will be continued in 2024. The first session dealt with the topic of sustainability and management systems.

Here you will find links to our publications that have already been published. We make the latest analyses available exclusively to VDMA member companies via our mailing list.

The VDMA has published a questionnaire on the LkSG, which can be used to further specify potential risks in your own business area and in the supply chain.

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are not only the focus of substance restrictions within the EU but are increasingly being restricted on the state-level in the USA.

In the future, only safe, circular and sustainable products are to be allowed on the EU internal market. The central element for mechanical and plant engineering in this context is the revision and opening of the Ecodesign Directive and the establishment of a digital product passport.

Maintaining products, components and materials at their highest utility and value, extending life cycles and thus reducing waste and resource consumption, that is the goal of the circular economy. The way to achieve this is to apply the 10 "R strategies" of the circular economy.

Due to environmental and potential health hazards, the EU intends to restrict the broad group of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under the REACH regulation.

The VDMA maturity model enables companies to self-assess their level of climate ambition and competence as well as how they compare to the sector average.

The Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) had significantly expanded the circle of users. The EU Commission's omnibus proposal aims to narrow this down again and simplify and reduce the reporting information.

On April 18, 2023, the German cabinet presented a draft law to increase energy efficiency and amend the Energy Services Act. An overview of the current status.

Under the heading "Battery legal requirements - From the BattG to the EU Battery Regulation", the VDMA held an event on March 20, 2023. Here is the most important in brief.

Europe is to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050: One initiative to achieve this is the digital product passport (DPP) and this is intended to map more transparency on sustainability information.

On 07.02.2023 ECHA has pre-published the restriction dossier on the broad restriction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

The topic of sustainability has long played an overriding role for the mechanical and plant engineering industry. The ecological transformation will dominate the coming decade. The topic of CO2 management plays a significant role in this process, as it influences corporate activities in many places.

Product-related environmental regulations, many of which are known by the widely used term "Material Compliance (MC)," have been explained by VMDA in a comprehensive guide.

Calculating the carbon footprint at the product level poses many challenges. In cooperation with various member companies, the VDMA is developing a "PCF calculation guideline" for the machinery and plant engineering sector.

Here you will find supporting documents to assist you in implementing the contents described in the ZVEI-VDMA Code of Conduct (compliance and sustainability topics) in your company.

Product Carbon Footprints are often calculated according to general standards. However, these standards often leave room for interpretation and do not offer transparent comparability. This problem is countered with the help of the VDMA standard sheet currently being prepared.

Mechanical and plant engineering is an enabler for climate protection and resource efficiency. Only with green technologies and innovative strength can climate targets be achieved and transformation shaped.

The planned EU reporting obligations on sustainability are out of touch with reality. Among other things, they are supposed to cover the entire value chain of companies. For this, medium-sized companies lack the in-house-expertise. Moreover, there are not enough experts available.

Call for participation: EU consultation runs until August 8. Every vote counts. VDMA supports its members.

The Blue Guide is the central document explaining overarching provisions on CE marking. The version from 2016 has been updated.

This year, the Innovation Award for Climate and Environment 2022 was presented to three partners of the VDMA sustainability initiative Blue Competence, among others. One of these three is Grundfos GmbH from Erkrath. The company received the award in the category "Process innovations for climate protection".

This year, the Innovation Award for Climate and Environment 2022 was presented to three partners of the VDMA sustainability initiative Blue Competence, among others. One of these three is Kurtz GmbH & Co KG from Kreuzwertheim. The company received the award in the "Environmentally friendly technologies" category.

Companies that want to modernize processes and invest in electricity and heat efficiency benefit from various - even lesser-known - funding opportunities at the federal and state levels.

Blue Competence is an initiative of the VDMA to promote sustainability in mechanical and plant engineering. At the same time, the initiative aims to publicize sustainable solutions to the industry that lead to new energy concepts, efficient use of scarce resources or an improvement in the quality of life.

With the cross-industry Code of Conduct, the VDMA aims to support companies in implementing compliance and sustainability requirements.

As a result of a national legislative initiative, the "Elektrogesetz 3" will come into force on 01.01.2022. This means that manufacturers of "B2B electrical equipment" will have more obligations than they had before.

The SCIP-Verbändeinformation, which was first developed in November 2020 together with eight other associations, has been revised.

On 24 November 2021, the kick-off event of the new VDMA project will take place online.Climate change is one of the key global challenges facing industry and society. Companies contribute significantly to anthropogenic climate change directly through site-related emissions, but also indirectly through emissions associated with energy purchases, as well as those that occur in the upstream and downstream value chain. Securing long-term competitiveness and adapting to the tightening political framework conditions are becoming drivers for greenhouse gas emission reductions and the gradual adaptation of new business models for companies across industries and regardless of their size.

Germany passed a Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG) back in 2021. At EU level, the Supply Chain Directive (CS3D), which was adopted in 2024, is currently being renegotiated as part of Omnibus I.

With the interactive PDF poster "Sustainability Overview", the VDMA aims to provide an overview of the now very complex topic of Sustainability with the corresponding legal requirements for initial, operational implementation.

Access to sustainable finance could become more difficult for the machinery and equipment sector, despite its significant contribution to the green transformation.

Three public consultations of the Sustainable Finance Platform and many more innovations in the EU taxonomy

EU Commission adopts second package on sustainable finance - Mechanical engineering as supplier of green technologies not sufficiently considered in taxonomy.

In the following article we explain the advantages of a strategic CSR management.

Since the beginning of the year, suppliers in the EU have been obliged to report products containing substances of very high concern.

The EU Green Deal sets a high goal for a pollution-free environment. The Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability of October 2020 is one of the implementations of this goal.

The VDMA East working groups provide important impulses for your daily work. They show best practice examples, provide valuable suggestions and promote contacts among members - currently also in web meetings.

What are the manufacturer obligations in the area of material compliance and how can they be fulfilled?

The digital event series "Connect2Discover@VDMA" invites you to get to know your association better. It offers you a regular insight into our wide range of services and shows you how you can best use your association for your tasks.

Our FAQ module provides detailed answers to the most important questions on how to strategically anchor sustainability in a company.

The Corona pandemic has also become a decisive point of departure for the EU Commission's climate agenda. The Green New Deal offers many opportunities for the mechanical and plant engineering industry - if it is based on market principles.

Makerspaces are freely accessible workshops with high-tech equipment. Ideal for machine makers – e.g. for trying new technology, meeting startups, or sustainability gains and training of own staff.

Description

The EU Parliament has adopted its position on the new circular economy package. From the VDMA's point of view, this is a good step into the right direction, but too much bureaucracy has to be avoided.

Blue Competence is the sustainability initiative of the mechanical and plant engineering industry.

Concepts and measures

Description

An environmental management system can be a valuable milestone towards sustainability management.

In order to develop a strategic CSR management approach, three phases are required.

The question of how the changeover to climate-neutral production can succeed is of central importance not only for the long-term goal of greenhouse gas neutrality, but also for Germany as an industrial location. As a solution provider of climate-friendly and low-emission technologies, the mechanical and plant engineering sector has a key role to play here. It is an enabler for other sectors and industries to reduce emissions and optimize processes and products.

Climate neutrality, avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions and offsetting are terms that can now be mentioned in the same breath. In an interview, Dr. Jochen Gassner, CEO First Climate, answers questions about offsetting that are of concern to the mechanical engineering industry and explains why offsetting helps the climate.

Where and how do I start? This is the most frequent question that companies ask themselves when they want to become climate neutral. It is a long way from the collection of emissions data and balancing to the implementation of measures to reduce emissions. Those who embark on this path should proceed in a targeted and systematic manner. Help is available in the form of an international standard that facilitates contemporary climate management.

Until recently, everyone was talking about the Paris Agreement on climate protection. It aims to limit the average temperature increase to 2 °C, preferably 1.5 °C. Why is there now talk of climate neutrality and what is the connection?

Principle 5: We act in a resource-efficient manner and are committed to climate protection

12 We communicate our sustainable actions transparently.

11. we maintain an active exchange with all parties involved.

10. We do what we promise!

9 We assume social responsibility in our regions.

8 Our company is a living space

Principle 7: We are committed to respecting human rights

Principle 4: Sustainable thinking and action is reflected in our processes and products

Guiding principle 3: Our technology and solutions promote sustainable development worldwide.

2nd guiding principle: With sustainable business models we create stable values and ensure entrepreneurial success

Sustainability is an essential component of our corporate strategy

Do you actually know all the services of our association that are important to you? Whether online, in writing or in person: Our range of services is as diverse as our industry - here you will find an overview.

The 12 guiding principles for sustainability in the mechanical and plant engineering industry are more than just lip service.

Companies that have committed themselves to the goal of climate neutrality all have something in common. They want to make an essential and individual contribution to climate protection. They are concerned with the question of where the emissions caused by their own company - both directly and indirectly - originate and consider what concrete measures can be taken to reduce them. The goal is always the same, but the way to achieve it is often different. Three approaches from the mechanical engineering sector are outlined here.

Climate-neutral production is a challenge along the entire value chain and occupies many companies. For this reason, the VDMA has now published a practical guide for the mechanical and plant engineering sector.

In order to better assess the economic consequences of the introduction of the SCIP database, the VDMA conducted a survey.

In the working group Technology - Laundry and Dry Cleaning Machines, technical and environmental topics relating to the mechanical engineering sector are advanced in the textile care sector.

For many companies in the mechanical and plant engineering industry, fulfilling the manufacturer's obligations under REACH and RoHS poses a major challenge. The VDMA now provides its members with non-binding handouts which can be used to design company-specific communication of "REACH and RoHS information" in the respective supply chain.

For a long time, the mechanical and plant engineering industry was convinced that regulations such as REACH and RoHS had a maximum indirect impact on it. Today, the customer demands "REACH and RoHS conformity" - even before the contract is concluded.

While the contents of "RoHS 3" are being discussed in the EU, countries outside the EU are introducing their first RoHS-like regulation. RoHS" stands for Restriction of Hazardous Substances and refers to the Directive on the Restriction of Certain Substances in Electrical and Electronic Products, which has been in force in the EU since 2003.

Since the beginning of 2021, importers of conflict minerals such as tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold from risk areas into the EU have been subject to binding due diligence obligations.

Unnoticed, numerous small and large pumps perform their daily service to make people's lives easier.