With the EU preparing to review key elements of its environmental framework – such as the possible “reopening” of the Water Framework Directive on Dec. 3 – debates over deregulation are intensifying. The European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA), representing a broad cross-section of the outdoor industry, has shared the following opinion piece by Executive Director Dan Yates to highlight the risks of weakening environmental legislation in pursuit of short-term competitiveness. His message: innovation and sustainability are not incompatible – and rolling back protections may hinder both business and the planet.
Is environmental deregulation and simplification really the path to a more competitive Europe?
On Thursday, Nov. 13, Lawmakers in the European Parliament passed the first Omnibus Simplification package, slashing environmental regulation and exempting 80 percent of companies from its mandatory sustainability disclosure.
Competitiveness as a priority over the EU Green Deal has been the tone of the narrative from the latest EU mandate, with Ursula von der Leyen stating at the beginning of her second term, “We need to make it easier to do business in Europe, to innovate in Europe, and to embrace the newest technologies.”
The need for a more competitive Europe in an uncertain world is not disputed, but is environmental deregulation the way? Europe has multiple examples of companies using research, innovation and development to both meet and exceed environmental legislation, thereby increasing their competitiveness in a crowded marketplace.
The EU is under pressure to “reopen” the Water Framework Directive as part of the current simplification push and to make it easier to obtain exemptions (derogations) for degrading the chemical status of waterbodies. This push comes from industry stakeholders and some member states. But, we can look to two European companies that have innovated to ensure their production and supply chains are free from “forever chemicals”, including PFAS, that are highly damaging to our freshwater ecosystems and drinking water supplies. Using innovation to ensure compliance without sacrificing competitiveness.
Jon Nash is COO at Nikwax, a chemical company that makes waterproofing solutions for textiles, with offices in the UK, the USA and Poland. Richard Croyle is Chief Innovation Officer at NZERO, a lubricant and waxes manufacturer, based in Spain.
“It became clear once I started working at Nikwax. If your business depends on people enjoying the outdoors, then protecting it has to be part of what you do and the products you produce,” says Nash. ”So making products that help people enjoy nature while minimising the impact they have isn’t optional for us — it’s simply the right way to do business.” “Nikwax has never and will never use PFAS, and that decision is one of the principles that defines who we are, right from day one. Our goal has always been to help people stay safe and comfortable outdoors, including safeguarding the environment they’re enjoying. It’s a mindset, rather than a manufacturing policy. Choosing not to use harmful chemicals means committing to better science, better chemistry and more effort at times, aligning our products with our values.” It is clear that the process for this sustainability focus requires change across the entire business structure. Nash continues: “Sustainability is a core value that is interwoven in Nikwax and it informs how decisions are made across the whole business. In R&D, it means constantly seeking safer, more effective alternatives across all areas of product development. In marketing, it means being transparent, not greenwashing. Finance decisions need to support long-term innovation rather than short-term savings through shortcuts.”
“Our mission is to enable sustainable mobility with waxes and lubricants that work in harmony with nature, delivering zero impact and protecting both people and the planet,” explains Croyle. “This absolutely means eliminating PFAS and striving to fully remove all petrol-chemical components from our products. The commitment begins with R&D. We carefully analyse, simulate and trial natural plant compounds to assess their sustainability and performance for each specific application. However, the process is business-wide with our purchasing department procuring from the most sustainably farmed sources, and even our logistics opting for sustainable transportation models.”
Both Nash and Croyle claim this innovation has driven competitiveness, and environmental regulation is a driving force for innovation in Europe.
“Because we ruled out PFAS from the start, we had to innovate and now we’re seen as leaders in this technology, even as our competitors move down this route,” continues Nash.” Responsibility hasn’t held us back; it’s helped us move ahead, and as more stringent regulations are now coming in globally, we have the opportunity to work with brands that want PFAS-free water repellence incorporated into their garment manufacturing process. I would argue that legislation is a key instrument in pushing for innovation within industry. Every time regulations are weakened, it gives permission for old and irresponsible habits to continue, reducing the intended impact and allowing environmental issues to persist. History is full of examples, notable ones such as leaded petrol, CFCs stand out. Innovation and legislation has the ability to move us forward. Strong standards don’t restrict progress; they demand change, which in turn, in this case, will lead to the protection effect we need to see.”
And Croyle warns: “We are in the midst of a human made climate emergency. In our sector, an important part of this has been driven through the extraction, processing and usage of oil and derived petrol-chemical products. Emissions from this industry tops 3.3 giga tonnes per year, the same as India. Toxic spills and water run-off leakage from product usage and removal is continuous and constantly damaging the planet. Innovation has made it possible to deliver the same performance of current products, and at the same final price point, without the usage of petrol-chemicals of forever chemicals. In this context, its essential that the EU maintains environmental standards for industry. Industry needs to be guided by regulation to discover, as we have, that there is another way.”
As the EU continues to push for competitiveness, it needs to understand that environmental legislation is not the blocker to progress it may think it is. Many businesses have already invested heavily in innovation to maintain both sustainability and productivity. Rolling back regulations to enable business-as-usual will neither protect business growth nor the environment we depend on.
By Dan Yates, Executive Director EOCA
EOCA (European Outdoor Conservation Association) was founded 20 years ago to create a mechanism for the outdoor industry to invest in nature and biodiversity.
