Industrial Emissions Directive (IED)

The Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) is EU legislation based on the application and assessment of BAT (Best Available Techniques) to reduce harmful industrial emissions to achieve a high level of protection for human health and the environment as a whole.  The IED looks holistically across the whole process and is the key instrument for minimising emissions and consumptions from most industrial activities.  Installations must be operated according to an integrated permit issued by competent authorities, containing emission limit values based on Best Available Techniques (BAT).

IED more specifically:

• All appropriate preventive measures are taken against pollution and no significant pollution is caused.
• BAT are applied according to the Best available technique REFerence (BREF) guidance documents.
• The generation of waste is avoided in accordance with the waste Directive (2008/98/EC).
• Where waste is generated, it is, in order of priority and in accordance with the waste Directive, prepared for re-use, recycled, recovered or, where that is technically and economically impossible, it is disposed of while avoiding or reducing any impact on the environment.
• Energy is used efficiently.
• Necessary measures are taken to prevent accidents.
• All necessary measures are taken upon cessation of activities to avoid any pollution risk.

In 2022, proposals were launched to update the IED. It still maintains the same principles and still aims to reduce emissions by applying specific “Best Available Techniques” (BAT). But the new proposal now aims to transform Europe to a zero-pollution, climate neutral economy by 2050.