Pollution and waste, and what companies can do about it

The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre and the European Environment Agency (EEA) published the 2025 zero pollution monitoring and outlook assessment. This assessment is a twice-yearly check on how EU Member States are progressing toward zero pollution targets. It will also guide future policies to help achieve the 2050 goal of reducing pollution to a level that no longer threatens human health or the environment.

Human Level’s Take:

• Businesses are directly linked to pollution—soil, air, water, and noise—through their operations and supply chains. For example, chemical pesticides in agriculture can contaminate soil, while industrial activities in manufacturing and construction can release hazardous chemicals and heavy metals. Poor waste disposal, like hazardous landfilling, further degrades soil quality
• Pollution harms human health, causing 10% of annual premature deaths in the EU-27. Air pollution alone leads to severe health issues and early deaths. Workers in the waste sector face risks from hazardous substances, while ecosystems that people depend on are disrupted
• Reducing pollution isn’t just about cleaner air, water, and soil—it’s crucial for building resilience to stressors like climate-driven heatwaves. Climate change also intensifies water pollution through droughts and floods, threatening health even more
• With the EU aiming for zero pollution by 2050, companies can expect:

1. Stricter environmental standards on emissions and waste management
2. Growing pressure to play a key role in ensuring a fair transition to a green economy, particularly by supporting communities most affected by pollution
3. Evolving regulations that integrate climate, environmental, and health goals
4. More funding opportunities for projects aligned with zero pollution, like renewable energy and circular economy solutions

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Some key takeaways:

• EU's Zero Pollution Action Plan: Pollution threatens ecosystems, the economy, and public health. The EU's Zero Pollution Action Plan (ZPAP) aims to significantly cut air, water and soil pollution to levels no longer considered harmful to human health and natural ecosystems by 2030, aligning with the European Green Deal’s goal of climate neutrality by 2050. Key targets of this plan include reducing premature deaths caused by air pollution (by more than 55%); reducing the share of people chronically distributed by transport noise (by 30%); and reducing the share of EU ecosystems where air pollution threatens biodiversity (by 25%). Other goals focus on reducing nutrient losses (by 50%); chemical pesticide use and risk (by 50%); hazardous chemical pesticide use (by 50%); sale of antimicrobials for farmed animals and in aquaculture (by 50%); plastic litter at sea (50%); microplastics released into the environment (by 30%); total waste generation; and residual municipal waste (by 50%). Progress is mixed. Targets on reducing air pollution-related premature deaths and chemical pesticide use and risk are on track, while progress is lagging on cutting the share of people chronically disturbed by transport noise, the share of EU ecosystems where air pollution threatens biodiversity, and nutrient losses. Sale of antimicrobials and marine litter reductions show positive trends, but microplastics and waste reduction efforts remain insufficient.

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• The link between pollution and harm to human health: Air, noise, soil and water pollution significantly impacts human health. Currently, 10% of annual premature deaths in EU-27 are related to environmental pollution. Air pollution — caused by industry, transport and domestic activities — leads to cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases that affect millions globally. Noise pollution is linked to annoyance, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and sleep disturbance. In addition, chemical pollution can bioaccumulate in the food chain, posing risks to human health. Workers in the waste sector may be exposed to substances causing health issues such as acute toxicity, allergies, cancer, infections and respiratory problems. Those handling and recycling electrical and electronic equipment are exposed to hazardous substances such as flame retardants, heavy metals and other chemicals, leading to adverse health impacts, especially in facilities with inadequate protective measures. On the flip side, curbing pollution will reduce related premature deaths and chronic illnesses and improve the quality of life. Importantly, reducing exposure from pollution will increase the population’s resilience in dealing with other stressors, such as heatwaves caused by climate change. Furthermore, climate change will exacerbate water pollution through intensifying droughts and floods, and, therefore, increasing threat to health. In this instance, protecting water resources from the effects of pollution is even more critical.

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• What can companies do? While the report’s recommendations are primarily aimed at EU policymakers, they will also have significant implications for businesses. For instance, the report highlights the importance of the European Commission’s 2024-2029 priorities and key initiatives (such as the Clean Industrial Deal, the Circular Economy Act, the Vision for Agriculture and Food, the Ocean Pact, the Water Resilience Strategy and the Chemicals Industry package) in driving pollution reductions. It also highlights the EU’s focus in the following areas: 1) the alignment of regulatory frameworks and incentives to support businesses that adopt zero pollution practices; 2) financing projects that contribute to the zero pollution goal, such as renewable energy, sustainable transport, safe and sustainable by design chemicals and circular economy solutions; 3) ensuring a just and equitable transition to a green economy, including supporting regions and communities that are disproportionately affected by pollution and environmental degradation as well as protecting parts of the population that are particularly vulnerable, like children, the elderly, pregnant women or individuals with pre-existing health conditions; 4) implementing existing laws, including the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) and the Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD), to drive pollution reductions; 5) introducing a new Circular Economy Act, helping to create market demand for secondary materials and a single market for waste, notably in relation to critical raw materials; and 6) driving international cooperation between the EU and other countries to achieve an ambitious, legally binding plastics treaty or the establishment of a scientific policy panel for chemicals, waste and pollution. Companies can expect to see: 1) increased focus on their emissions, waste and pollution management systems; 2) increased focus on their role in ensuring a just transition to a green economy, particularly in supporting regions and communities disproportionately affected by pollution; 3) a rise in legislative and regulatory frameworks, incorporating pollution targets into climate, environmental and health areas; and 4) more financing opportunities for projects that align with the EU’s zero pollution goal, including renewable energy, sustainable transport, circular economy solutions, and safe and sustainable by design chemicals.