The EU's new and upcoming legal requirements for green transition
Find information about a selection of the regulations resulting from the European Green Deal that may affect your company. Some of the regulations are still under consideration within the EU or are being introduced into Swedish legislation. Please note that the list is not comprehensive. There may be additional regulations, both within and outside the Green Deal, that may be relevant to your company or that are specific to your industry.
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The European Green Deal – The EU’s strategy for sustainable growth
The European Green Deal is the EU’s growth strategy. Launched in 2019, it is a comprehensive package of policy initiatives to pave the way for a green transition in the EU. The aim is for Europe to be climate neutral by 2050.
The Green Deal is part of the EU’s transformation into a fair and prosperous society with a modern and competitive economy. The strategy includes measures that affect businesses in a range of sectors, including energy, transport, industry, agriculture and sustainable finance. The EU has adopted, or plans to adopt, legislation that all member states will have to follow.
The European Green Deal at the European Commission
Omnibus
The European Commission has announced two so-called omnibus proposals that are intended to make things easier for businesses and reduce the administrative burden. The first of these is Omnibus I, which contains simplification proposals for four pieces of legislation.
Laws and regulations that may affect your business
The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) is an EU directive that requires certain companies to report on sustainability. The reporting must follow common standards (European Sustainability Reporting Standards), which specify what information must be reported.
The purpose of the directive is to increase access to information about how companies' operations affect people and the environment, as well as how companies are affected by sustainability issues in the form of risks and opportunities for the business. Sustainability reporting should also make it easier for investors to get a clearer picture of how companies are taking responsibility for a sustainable transition, which makes it possible to direct investments in a more responsible way.
There is currently no responsible authority in Sweden.
Further reading: Sustainability reporting at FI
CSRD is covered by omnibus package I. For more information, see: Commission proposes to simplify business environment at the European Commission
The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D) places a responsibility on certain companies to exercise due diligence in their operations and value chains to prevent negative impacts on human rights and the environment.
Examples of such negative impacts include forced labour, child labour and environmental degradation. The aim of the directive is for companies to actively contribute to the sustainable transformation of the European economy. At the same time, the directive aims to promote competitive neutrality and strengthen legal certainty in the EU’s internal market.
Further reading: Corporate sustainability due diligence at the European Commission
CSDDD is covered by omnibus package I. For more information, see: Commission proposes to simplify business environment at the European Commission
The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) is a central part of the Union's strategy to promote environmentally sustainable and circular products. The regulation acts as a framework law with a broad application and allows the European Commission to set ecodesign requirements for a wide range of product categories through delegated acts.
Ecodesign requirements can concern the performance of the product (performance requirements) or the information that must accompany the product (information requirements). The requirements can include, for example, how durable, reusable, upgradable and repairable the product is, as well as the hazardous substances it contains and how these affect the possibility of recycling.
In addition to the possibility of setting ecodesign requirements, the regulation also contains provisions on how information requirements should be packaged (in a digital product passport), as well as information on and a ban on the destruction of unsold goods.
The requirements apply to all companies, regardless of size, that supply products within the categories covered by the regulation. A few product groups are exempted from the regulation. In the future, energy-related products, including those already covered by the Ecodesign Directive, will be covered by the rules in the ESPR.
Further reading: Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation at the European Commission
The Ecodesign Regulation at the Swedish Energy Agency (in Swedish)
The Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR) aims to prevent trade in goods that contribute to global deforestation and forest degradation, as part of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and global biodiversity loss.
The regulation requires companies to actively ensure that a number of raw materials and products that they sell on the EU internal market, or export from the Union, have not recently caused deforestation or forest degradation anywhere in the world. This applies to products that contain, have been fed with or are produced from raw materials such as cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soy and wood.
Further reading: Regulation on Deforestation-free products at the Swedish Forest Agency
The Taxonomy Regulation, also known as the EU Taxonomy, sets a common standard for when an economic activity, such as an investment, can be classified as environmentally sustainable. To be classified as environmentally sustainable, the economic activity must contribute significantly to one or more of the EU’s six environmental objectives, not cause significant harm to any of the other objectives and meet certain minimum sustainability requirements.
Companies covered by the Regulation must meet a number of requirements and technical criteria. Among other things, they are required to report to what extent their activities are covered by and in line with the EU Taxonomy.
The EU Taxonomy provides companies, investors and policymakers with a common framework to identify and compare sustainable investments. The aim is to channel capital more effectively into activities that promote the EU’s climate and environmental objectives.
Most companies covered by the CSRD are also covered by the Taxonomy Regulation.
Further reading: Taxonomy at FI
EU taxonomy is covered by omnibus package I. For more information, see: Commission proposes to simplify business environment at the European Commission
The Consumer Empowerment Directive is intended to make it easier for consumers to choose sustainable products and services. The aim is to provide consumers with better protection and clearer information about the environmental impact and circular characteristics of products and services. For example, how repairable they are, their lifespan and whether the manufacturer offers updates.
The directive also means that consumers will receive stronger protection against misleading and unfounded environmental claims about the products and services that companies market. This means, among other things, that companies will need to be transparent and be able to substantiate the environmental claims they use in their marketing.
The Consumer Empowerment Directive entered into force in March 2024 and must be fully implemented in all member states, including Sweden, by March 2026 at the latest. The government has appointed an inquiry to propose how the implementation should take place.
Further reading: Consumer rights: final approval for the directive to empower consumers for the green transition at the European Council
The EU Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) aims to reduce the amount of electrical and electronic waste. The directive also aims to counteract the negative impact of waste on the environment and human health by setting clear requirements for how it should be collected, recycled and disposed of.
According to the directive, all electrical and electronic equipment sold within the EU must, with certain exceptions, be clearly marked with the so-called WEEE symbol (a crossed-out wheeled bin). The symbol indicates that the product must not be thrown away as household waste but must be taken to a special recycling station.
In Sweden, the WEEE Directive has been transposed through the Regulation on Producer Responsibility for Electrical Equipment. Producer means the operator who, in the course of his professional activity, for payment or free of charge, provides electrical or electronic equipment for distribution, use or consumption on the Swedish market. These companies must regularly submit reports on the amount of electrical and electronic equipment sold, and organize and finance the collection, treatment and recycling of their products. As a distributor, companies must also offer their customers the opportunity to return electrical and electronic waste free of charge.
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency is the authority responsible for ensuring that the legislation on producer responsibility is complied with.
Further reading: E-waste: Council adopts amendments to clarify who pays for management costs at the European Council
The EU Battery Regulation regulates the management of batteries and battery waste and replaces the previous Battery Directive. New requirements are introduced, including tightening producer responsibility for all companies selling batteries on the EU market. This means that companies become responsible for batteries throughout their entire life cycle, from production and use to collection and recycling. The regulation also introduces new battery categories, including for electric cars, and contains rules for how batteries should be transported, stored and recycled.
The national supplementary provisions that the government has proposed to meet the requirements of the regulation have not yet been decided. Currently, the Swedish regulation on producer responsibility for batteries applies, as long as it does not conflict with the rules in the Battery Regulation.
The Swedish Chemicals Agency is the authority responsible for monitoring the rules on the limitation of heavy metals in batteries. The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency is the authority responsible for other parts of the regulation, such as producer responsibility and waste management.
Further reading: Batteries at the Swedish Chemical Agency
The revised EU Construction Products Regulation (CPR) introduces new requirements for the assessment, labelling and documentation of construction products within the EU internal market. The aim of the amendments to the regulation is to harmonise the conditions for the sale of construction products and remove barriers to trade in construction products between Member States. The regulation sets out, among other things, requirements for CE marking and declaration of performance, which must be met in order for construction products to be placed on the market.
Construction products are any product or kit that is manufactured and placed on the market to be permanently incorporated into a construction work or parts thereof, and whose performance affects the ability of the construction work to meet the essential requirements for construction works. These requirements include safety, health and environmental protection, durability, energy efficiency, economic aspects and other important aspects of public interest. The regulation also extends the definition of construction products to also include those that are not permanently integrated into a construction work.
A new and central part of the revised regulation is the introduction of a digital product passport. The aim is to improve the traceability of products throughout the value chain. Via the digital product passport, the manufacturer reports detailed information about the product, which enables transparency, traceability and more detailed product information.
The Construction Products Regulation is being introduced in stages, with the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning as the responsible authority.
Further reading: Construction Products Regulation at the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning
The EU has amended the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) with new requirements for both new and existing buildings. The requirements are primarily aimed at property owners such as construction companies, municipalities, regions and their companies. The aim is to increase the energy efficiency of buildings and for all buildings to be zero-emission buildings by 2050.
Among other things, requirements are being introduced for companies to report the energy performance of their buildings to a national database via digital energy certificates. In addition, buildings can receive a digital renovation passport, which shows a long-term plan for how a building can be renovated to become more energy efficient. The passport is voluntary, unless the member state decides that it should be mandatory.
Companies that develop new buildings must ensure during the design and construction phase that the energy performance meets the requirements for zero-emission buildings. In addition, companies must report the building's climate impact from a life cycle perspective. Owners of existing buildings are primarily affected by major renovations, where energy performance must meet the minimum requirements to the extent that it is technically, functionally and economically possible.
Companies that sell products or offer services in the field of energy efficiency are indirectly affected. This applies, for example, to manufacturers of building materials, suppliers of energy efficiency services and actors who carry out energy renovations, inspections and certifications, such as architects, advisors and installers.
The new directive entered into force in May 2024 and Sweden must have implemented the rules in Swedish legislation by 29 May 2026, with the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning as the responsible authority.
Further reading: Directive - EU - 2024/1275 - EN - EUR-Lex
The European Commission has presented a proposal for a new regulation on circularity requirements for vehicle design and end-of-life vehicle management. The proposal replaces older directives with a comprehensive and modernised regulation that will better support the transition to a circular economy at all stages of the manufacturing process and end-of-life vehicle management.
The proposed regulation requires new vehicles to be designed in a way that facilitates dismantling, reuse and recycling. It also contains binding targets for the use of recycled plastic and opens up future targets for recycled steel, aluminium and critical raw materials. It proposes the introduction of a digital vehicle passport that will contain detailed information about the vehicle's materials and components. It proposes to tighten producer responsibility, so that manufacturers are responsible for the entire life cycle of their products, including waste management. The proposal also includes tightened rules for export shipments of end-of-life vehicles.
The European Commission presented the proposal in 2023. In June 2025, the Council of Ministers reached an agreement on the content of the regulation. Final negotiations are now underway with the European Parliament to reach an agreement before the regulation can be adopted and enter into force.
Further reading: New EU rules on design, reuse and recycling in the automotive sector at the European Parliment
The Clean Vehicles Directive (CVD) aims to increase the use of environmentally friendly and energy-efficient vehicles in the public sector.
The directive sets clear environmental requirements for vehicles and transport services that authorities and other organizations procure. Contracting entities must also report which vehicles are included in the procurements to the Swedish Transport Agency.
Small and medium-sized enterprises that deliver transport services, such as public transport, school transport and waste collection, to municipalities, regions or authorities will need to ensure that their vehicles meet the requirements. Support service companies, such as order centres, should also have a good knowledge of the requirements in order to ensure that their contracts comply with the regulations.
The Swedish Transport Agency is the authority responsible for reporting under the CVD. To facilitate reporting, they are developing the e-service Clean Vehicle Reporting (CVD).
Further reading: Clean Vehicles Directive at the European Commission
The EU has decided on several amendments to the Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation. The aim of the amendments is to make information on hazardous substances and mixtures clearer and easier to understand. Among other things, new requirements are introduced for label design, information in advertising and for distance selling.
The Swedish Chemicals Agency is the responsible authority. Many of the new provisions will not enter into force until 1 July 2026.
Further reading: CLP - Classification, Labelling and Packaging at the Swedish Chemicals Agency
The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) aims to reduce the amount of packaging waste, limit the use of harmful substances in packaging, increase reuse and promote material recycling.
The new rules cover the entire life cycle of packaging, from product design to waste management. The requirements include, among other things, extended producer responsibility and restrictions on permitted levels of heavy metals and PFAS. When the new rules come into force, anyone who provides reusable packaging on the Swedish market for the first time will be obliged to ensure that there is a system for the reuse of such packaging in Sweden.
The regulation primarily affects companies that manufacture, import or distribute packaging, but also producers, producer responsibility organisations, return systems, reuse systems, shops and businesses in the hotel, restaurant and catering sector.
The regulation comes into force on 12 August 2026 and will then replace current Swedish regulations. Some parts will start to apply at a later date.
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency is the responsible authority.
Further reading: Extended producer responsibility for packaging at the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
The EU has amended the Radio Equipment Directive (RED), also known as the Common Charger Directive. The directive aims to reduce the amount of electronic waste and the need to extract new raw materials. At the same time, emissions from the production, transport and disposal of chargers will be reduced. The measures will contribute to a sustainable and circular economy and make things easier for consumers.
One of the new requirements is that USB-C will become the common charging standard for laptops from 28 April 2026, the same standard that already applies to mobile phones, tablets and headphones. The USB-C requirement only applies to products sold within the EU.
Companies that provide electronic products must inform consumers whether a charger is included with a purchase. This information must be made available through a special label. In addition, information about the product's charging capacity must be stated both on the packaging and in the user manual.
The Swedish Post and Telecom Agency (PTS) is the responsible authority.
Further reading: One common charging solution at the European Commission
Guidance for the interpretation of the Common Charger Directive at EUR-Lex
The EU has adopted an amendment to the Regulation on carbon dioxide emission standards that sets new targets for reducing carbon dioxide emissions from heavy-duty vehicles by 2030, 2035 and 2040. The aim of the new rules is to contribute to meeting the EU's 2030 climate targets and to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.
The scope of the regulation is expanded to now include more types of new heavy-duty vehicles, such as buses and trucks. In addition, expanded reporting requirements are introduced for manufacturers of heavy-duty vehicles, who must report and comply with the requirements. The regulation also has an indirect impact on subcontractors, transport companies and other actors in the supply chain.
The Swedish Transport Agency is the responsible authority.
Further reading: Regulation (EU) 2024/1610 at EUR-Lex
The EU has adopted a new directive on the right to repair (R2R) to strengthen consumers' ability to repair products. The directive also aims to create incentives for manufacturers to develop products that last longer, are repairable and can be reused or recycled. This is done by primarily obliging companies to offer a repair to a consumer instead of replacing a product with a new one, while consumers have the right to request a repair of a product.
The directive has not yet been implemented in Swedish legislation. The government has appointed a special investigator to propose how the R2R directive can be implemented in Sweden. The investigation must be reported no later than 15 December 2025.
Further reading: Circular economy at the European Council
The Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA) aims to strengthen the EU’s capacity to manufacture net-zero technologies – that is, products that contribute to reducing or eliminating greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide. The regulation covers 19 different net-zero technologies, including solar, wind, nuclear, biomethane, grid, heat pump, battery, hydrogen and carbon capture technologies.
Part of the regulation introduces deadlines for permit processes for all projects that aim to manufacture net-zero technologies. To coordinate and facilitate these permit processes, there will be common contact points in each member state, and the government has appointed six county administrative boards as such contact points in Sweden.
The regulation also introduces non-price-related criteria in public procurement. This means that authorities must take into account criteria such as sustainability, resilience, cybersecurity and other qualitative factors when procuring net-zero technologies.
The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth is the authority responsible for processing and recognizing manufacturing projects for net-zero technology as strategic net-zero projects. In addition, the Geological Survey of Sweden (SGU) has been appointed as the authority responsible for recognizing strategic net-zero projects that include carbon capture, infrastructure for carbon transport and carbon storage – so-called CCS technology (Carbon Capture and Storage). This means that SGU processes and decides on recognition for this type of project that relates to carbon storage.
Further reading: Net-Zero Industry Act at the European Council
The EU has adopted a regulation that changes the rules for cross-border shipments of waste both within and outside the EU. The main purpose of the regulation is to ensure that waste is transported and managed in an environmentally acceptable manner as well as to combat illegal exports of both hazardous and non-hazardous waste.
Exports of waste subject to notification requirements are no longer permitted if the recipient country is not approved by the EU Commission. Anyone planning cross-border waste shipments is responsible for finding out whether notification or information requirements apply.
The new regulation has entered into force, but some older provisions still apply and will be phased out gradually until May 2027. The regulation affects several actors, including waste producers, transporters and treatment facilities. Which rules apply mainly depends on the type of waste to be transported, how the waste is to be treated or disposed of, and to which country the waste is to be transported.
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency is the responsible authority.
Further reading: Shipments of waste at EUR-Lex
The EU has reached an agreement to amend the Waste Framework Directive, with a particular focus on food and textile waste. The new producer responsibility for textiles will be in place by 2028, while new binding targets will be introduced to reduce food waste by 2030.
Food waste will be reduced by 10% in the food industry and by 30% per person from retail, restaurants and households. The reduction will be calculated on the basis of an average of the amount of food waste in the years 2021 to 2023. Member States will also facilitate the donation of unsold food.
Producer responsibility for textiles means that anyone who sells textiles, clothing or footwear on the EU market for the first time, regardless of whether they are a manufacturer, importer, distance seller outside the EU or via e-commerce, is responsible for financing the collection, sorting and recycling of the products. This applies to clothing, shoes, blankets, bed linen and curtains, among others.
Once the law has been signed and published in the EU Official Journal, member states have 30 months to incorporate the rules into national legislation.
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency is the authority responsible for identifying those parts of the directive that may be particularly challenging to implement in Swedish law or that require major policy considerations. The assignment is due to be reported in October.facilities. Which rules apply mainly depends on the type of waste to be transported, how the waste is to be treated or disposed of, and to which country the waste is to be transported.
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency is the responsible authority.
Further reading: Parliament adopts new EU rules to reduce textile and food waste at the European Parliment
Producer responsibility means that companies that professionally manufacture, import, distribute or sell products on the market are responsible for all or part of the product's life cycle, including when the product has become waste. In Sweden, we have statutory producer responsibility for eleven product groups. Producer responsibility is based on the principle of "the polluter pays".
Producer responsibility is intended to encourage companies to develop products that are resource-efficient, easy to reuse and recycle and free of environmentally hazardous substances. The aim is to reduce waste quantities, improve waste quality and combat littering in Sweden and other EU countries.
Further reading: Guidance for producer responsibility at the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
How EU legislation is implemented in Sweden
The European Union (EU) adopts legal acts, mainly directives and regulations, which must be implemented or enforced in national law.
EU directive
An EU directive is a binding legal act that applies to all member states. Directives set out objectives or results to be achieved, through requirements that member states must meet. EU directives leave a certain amount of room for each member state to decide for themselves how implementation should take place. The extent of this room for manoeuvre can vary between different directives. When a directive enters into force, member states, such as Sweden, must investigate and assess whether their current legislation already meets the requirements of the directive, or whether it needs to be amended. The amendments can involve both new and revised Swedish laws, regulations or government regulations.
EU regulation
An EU regulation is a binding legal act that is directly applicable and immediately applicable in all member states. It does not therefore need to be converted into national law, but automatically becomes part of national legislation. Member States may not change the content or implement the Regulation in a different way in their own legal order, unless the Regulation itself allows for such options. However, supplementary implementing regulations may be required, for example regarding which Swedish authority is responsible for implementation or what sanctions shall apply in the event of infringements. If a Swedish constitution conflicts with an EU Regulation, the EU Regulation always applies.
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From: Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth