Sustainability & Energy - vdma.eu
The High-Tech Agenda Germany sets new research policy priorities. What is behind the agenda? What significance does it have for the mechanical and plant engineering industry? How is the VDMA involved in its implementation?
The Regulation on transparency and integrity of environmental, social and governance (ESG) rating activities will apply from July 2, 2026
For companies that process and transport lead and lead-containing alloys, a new EU regulation has brought about a change in the regulatory framework.
Current information on the European PFAS restriction initiative and PFAS regulation worldwideescription
17 leading business associations are calling for the German Supply Chain Act to be completely suspended. In the view of the associations, the changes planned so far are not sufficient to provide companies with any noticeable relief.
Here you will find an updated overview of the progress of the project after the fourth face-to-face meeting - status January 2026 (update no. 5).
materialHUB is a free and publicly funded online platform for publishing and researching material data according to technical characteristics and (environmental) regulatory aspects. https://www.materialhub.de
The VDMA interest group materialHUB is working on incorporating current environmental and sustainability aspects into the research platform and optimizing the user-friendliness of material research and data provision.
Suppliers who share information on materials, material classes and application areas benefit from the visibility of their commercial offerings and research activities and meet the growing information needs of their customers.
Obligations for producers and distributors of batteries in Germany under the extended producer responsibility framework.
Within the VDMA, hydrogen is not only of great interest for the VDMA Power-to-X for Applications, but is accompanied by a whole range of areas with diverse activities.
The electricity tax rate for the manufacturing industry will be permanently reduced to the European minimum. The law is a first step towards effectively reducing electricity costs.
The three industry associations Bitkom, VDMA and ZVEI are warning of a regulatory standstill in the German battery market. They are calling for a moratorium on the implementation of the new Battery Implementation Act.
Automatisierung macht das Recycling von Elektroschrott effizienter und sicherer. Beim Treffen der VDMA-Fachverbände wurden innovative Lösungen für die Kreislaufwirtschaft vorgestellt.
The new 2026/27 edition of the VDMA Technology Guide Oil, Gas, Petrochemicals has been published. The focus is on climate-friendly technologies and alternative solutions for "hard-to-abate" sectors.
The EU sustainability omnibus package was adopted with the urgently needed adjustments. A strong signal for more legal certainty and practicable solutions for our small and medium-sized industry.
The EU Commission is taking the right path with the environmental omnibus. It will finally bring real relief for small and medium-sized industrial companies.
Seven leading business organizations are calling on the German government not to jeopardize its own goals for the EU omnibus package on sustainability. What is needed is a 1:1 implementation of the plans, not abstention in the trilogue.
With the ResourceEU plan, the EU Commission wants to make Europe less dependent on raw material imports from China. In particular, the development of Europe's own production and processing capacities for critical raw materials is essential in the medium term.
The CBAM regulation phase will begin on 1 January 2026. From then on, only CBAM registrants will be allowed to import CBAM goods. For companies in Germany find more information on registering here.
Regulatory Requirements Guide for H2 Plants and Systems in Germany and Europe - Part 1: General
The EU Parliament has taken the right step with the Deforestation Regulation, now it's up to the trialogue. In order for there to finally be planning certainty, the relief proposed by the Commission must be adopted swiftly.
The results of the COP 30 summit are disappointing - above all, there is no process for phasing out fossil fuels. Nevertheless, the Paris process for global climate protection remains relevant.
The international climate summit took place between 10-21 November in Belém, Brazil
The European Parliament has postponed the extremely important reduction of bureaucratic demands on companies (Omnibus I) - a fatal sign for European industry. Nine major associations are calling on EU and federal politicians to find a solution.
An ambitious EU climate target for 2040 also needs the right framework conditions for industry. A clear and uniform European position on the climate target sends the right signal for global climate protection measures.
VDMA welcomes the EU initiative to reduce bureaucracy in environmental legislation. However, it calls for bolder, more practical steps to relieve the burden on European industry, promote climate protection and ensure competitiveness.
On 17 October 2025, the European Union published Regulation (EU) 2025/2083, introducing significant amendments to the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
Three political groups in the European Parliament are blocking the urgently needed simplification of sustainability reports. Europe's competitiveness must not become a plaything of ideological interests.
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.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs' monitoring shows: The energy transition can and must become more efficient. However, neither the study nor the ten key measures provide a clear concept for the future.
The agreement on CBAM simplification is an important step, but the extension to downstream sectors should be taken off the table. And the technical specifications are still missing.
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.
The EU's omnibus package on sustainability is intended to protect small and medium-sized industrial companies from excessive reporting obligations. This goal must no longer be watered down in the European Parliament.
With the ‘Sustainability and Environmental Talks’, the VDMA is organising a web series on current and relevant sustainability topics for the mechanical and equipment manufacturing industry. You can find an overview of the topics and dates here.
In future, the Environment and Sustainability department will provide ten topic-specific newsletters for targeted information on environmental and sustainability topics.
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’.
Legislators must not ignore the reality of everyday industrial life, and this also applies to the EU Commission's Chemicals Action Plan.
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.
Here you will find an updated overview of the progress of the project after the third face-to-face meeting on 12.03.202 (update no. 4).
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.
Morgan Stanley analyzes the ramp-up of a green hydrogen economy in the US and Europe and advises caution when investing, as green hydrogen will remain expensive compared to other sources for the foreseeable future.
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.
On 26.02.2025, the European Commission published the omnibus proposal on sustainability. The trilogue agreement on CSRD and CS3D was reached in the night of December 9, 2025. CBAM adjustments were already adopted in summer 2025.
The Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) had significantly expanded the circle of users. With the Sustainability Omnibus, this has been narrowed down again and the reporting information has been simplified and reduced.
Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition (EmpCo)
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.
In Germany, the Bundestag passed a Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG) back in 2021. At EU level, the Supply Chain Directive (CS3D), which was already adopted in 2024, was amended by Omnibus I.
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.
EUDR postponed again by one year. Implementation will now begin on December 30, 2026. Adjustments have also been made. The mechanical engineering industry is directly affected in some areas of the spare parts business.
Important questions on this topic
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PCF Guideline: How can companies determine their product carbon footprint?
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What new obligations does the Energy Efficiency Act impose?
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VDMA Material Compliance Guideline: How can companies fulfil product-related environmental requirements?
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Where can I find information on product-related environmental requirements outside the EU?
Events
The Ecodesign Regulation and the Digital Product Passport present new challenges for the mechanical and plant engineering industry. At the same time, the ESPR offers the opportunity for greater sustainability and resource efficiency. And the DPP offers the possibility of new business models and process optimization through the associated digitalization. Find out what the current state of affairs is, what the future holds, and how you can deal with it in the best possible way to take advantage of these opportunities.
In this Connect2Discover@VDMA, you will learn how current regulatory changes and EU initiatives are supposed to reduce administrative burdens.
The third VDMA European Summit 2026 goes to Bella Italia. Look forward to interesting topics and excellent networking opportunities and don't miss THE meeting of the European machinery and equipment manufacturing industry.
Further details will follow. Make a note of the date today or register directly so that you can receive the information and agenda straight away.
Markets have rarely changed as rapidly as the global energy markets are currently doing. Exchange and cooperation are therefore more important than ever. To foster this, we are inviting you to the 3rd VDMA Energy Networking Day on 17 and 18 June 2026.
Join us for a full day dedicated to information exchange, professional insights, and dialogue at the VDMA Headquarters. Meet VDMA experts as well as our international representatives from across Europe and around the world.
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