Green Policies, Regulations & Standards

Italy’s water reuse framework regulates the use of treated wastewater for irrigation and industrial purposes. Operators and users must obtain authorisations, comply with strict quality standards, and implement risk management plans. The framework supports climate resilience and water efficiency while prioritising health and environmental protection. Non-compliance can lead to permit withdrawal and fines.

The Canada Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act (Bill C-12), enacted in June 2021, makes the country’s commitment to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 legally binding. It requires the federal government to set and publish five-year emissions-reduction targets beginning with 2030, supported by detailed climate plans and progress reports. Oversight is provided by an independent Net-Zero Advisory Body, which monitors policy alignment and advises on corrective action if milestones are missed. The law strengthens accountability by mandating public reporting to Parliament and embedding transparency across federal policymaking. It underpins Canada’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan and long-term strategy under the Paris Agreement, ensuring continuity across governments and sectors.

Italy’s Legislative Decree 116/2020 implements the EU Circular Economy Package, updating national waste and packaging rules. It expands separate collection, strengthens recycling targets, revises waste classifications, and increases EPR obligations for packaging and other products. Companies must adopt new systems for segregation, documentation, and producer responsibility while municipalities upgrade collection infrastructure. The decree is now central to Italy’s transition to a circular economy.

Swiss soil protection rules aim to preserve soil fertility and prevent contamination and physical degradation. They apply across construction, industrial, and agricultural activities, often through permit conditions, monitoring duties, and authority orders. Practical compliance focuses on preventing contaminant releases, managing excavated soil correctly, and avoiding degradation such as compaction or erosion in sensitive contexts. Non-compliance can trigger corrective orders, remediation requirements, and long-tail liability exposure, particularly where contamination affects groundwater or triggers contaminated-site procedures.

Italy’s Legislative Decree 28/2011 establishes the core framework for promoting renewable energy, including sustainability criteria for biofuels, incentives for renewable electricity, and priority grid access. The decree remains in force alongside later renewable-energy reforms and continues to shape Italy’s clean energy deployment.

Royal Decree 163/2014 created Spain’s Carbon Footprint, Offsetting and CO₂ Absorption Projects Registry, originally as a purely voluntary tool to encourage organisations to measure, reduce, and compensate their greenhouse gas emissions. Amendments adopted after 2023 now make carbon-footprint calculation, registration, and the publication of reduction plans mandatory for certain categories of companies defined in the updated decree, while others remain voluntary participants. The registry underpins Spain’s climate policy and provides a national reference for credible GHG accounting, offsetting, and forest-based absorption projects.

Italy’s Legislative Decree 231/2001 establishes corporate liability for environmental crimes committed in a company’s interest. Firms are expected to adopt effective compliance and control models to prevent offences. Failure to do so can result in fines, operational bans, and confiscation of profits. The decree is a cornerstone of environmental risk governance and corporate ESG compliance in Italy.

The EU Waste Framework Directive (WFD) defines the principles of waste management across all EU Member States, establishing the waste hierarchy and promoting prevention, reuse, and recycling. It obliges governments and companies to manage waste without harming the environment and to implement extended producer responsibility systems. The 2025 revision strengthens measures on textile and food waste, ensuring greater accountability and progress toward a circular economy.

The Kreislaufwirtschaftsgesetz (KrWG) is Germany’s core law for waste management and the circular economy. It establishes obligations for waste prevention, reuse, recycling, and extended producer responsibility. This article outlines regulatory requirements, penalties, and implementation challenges.

Canada’s Energy Efficiency Regulations establish mandatory minimum energy performance standards, reporting, and labelling requirements for a wide range of energy-using products sold or imported into Canada. The Regulations apply primarily to manufacturers and importers and are enforced before products can be placed on the Canadian market. Standards are product-specific and are updated periodically through regulatory amendments to reflect technological progress and international benchmarks. Compliance requires pre-market testing, submission of energy efficiency reports, and retention of supporting documentation. Non-compliant products cannot be legally traded in Canada and may be subject to enforcement actions. The Regulations play a central role in reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from buildings, appliances, and industrial equipment.