Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2486 of 27 June 2023 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council by establishing the technical screening criteria for determining the conditions under which an economic activity qualifies as contributing substantially to the sustainable use and protection of water and marine resources, to the transition to a circular economy, to pollution prevention and control, or to the protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems and for determining whether that economic activity causes no significant harm to any of the other environmental objectives and amending Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2178 as regards specific public disclosures for those economic activities

3.4.   Maintenance of roads and motorways

Maintenance of streets, roads and motorways, other vehicular and pedestrian ways, surface work on streets, roads, highways, bridges, tunnels, aerodrome runways, taxiways and aprons, defined as all actions undertaken to maintain and restore the serviceability (²²) and level of service of roads (²³). For bridges and tunnels, the economic activity only includes the maintenance of the road that runs on the bridge or through the tunnel. It does not include the maintenance of the bridge or tunnel itself.

The economic activity includes routine maintenance, which can be scheduled on a periodical basis. The economic activity also includes preventive maintenance and rehabilitation which are defined as works undertaken to preserve or restore serviceability and to extend the service life (²⁴) of an existing road. The maintenance operation is mainly dedicated to pavement management and concerns only the following main elements of the road: binder course, surface course and concrete slabs. The roads in the scope of this economic activity are made of asphalt, concrete or a combination of the two.

The economic activities in this category could be associated with NACE code F42.11 in accordance with the statistical classification of economic activities established by Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006.

3.5.   Use of concrete in civil engineering

Use of concrete for new construction, reconstruction, or maintenance (²⁵) of civil engineering objects, except concrete road surfaces on the following elements: streets, motorways, highways, other vehicular and pedestrian ways, bridges, tunnels and aerodrome runways, taxiways and aprons that are covered under the economic activity ‘Maintenance of roads and motorways’ (See Section 3.4 of this Annex).

An economic activity in this category could be associated with several NACE codes, in particular F42.12, F42.13, F42.2, F42.9, in accordance with the statistical classification for economic activities established by Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006.

4. Information and communication

4.1.   Provision of IT/OT data-driven solutions

The activity manufactures, develops, installs, deploys, maintains, repairs or provides professional services, including technical consulting for design or monitoring of:

(a) software (²⁶) and information technology (IT) or operational technology (OT) systems (²⁷), including artificial intelligence (AI) based solutions, such as for automated machine learning, built for the purpose of remote monitoring and predictive maintenance, including systems for: (i) remotely collecting, processing, transferring, and storing data from equipment, products or infrastructure during their use or operation; (ii) analysing the data and generating insights about the operational performance and condition of the equipment, product or infrastructure; (iii) providing remote maintenance and recommendations about measures required to avoid operational failure and maintain the equipment, product or infrastructure in an optimal operating condition and prolong their useful life and reduce resource use and waste;

(b) tracking and tracing software and IT or OT systems built for the purpose of providing identification, tracking and tracing of materials, products and assets through their respective value chains (including digital material and product passports) with the predominant objective to support the circularity of material flows and products or other objectives set out in Regulation (EU) 2020/852;

(c) lifecycle assessment software supporting the lifecycle assessment and related reporting for products, equipment or infrastructures;

(d) design and engineering software supporting the eco-design of products, equipment, and infrastructure, including waste management and resource efficiency;

(e) supplier management software supporting green procurement of materials, products and services with low environmental impact, but excluding the operation of market places supporting the trading of such goods;

(f) lifecycle performance management software supporting the monitoring and assessment of the circularity performance of products, equipment, or infrastructures during their lifecycle.

The economic activities in this category could be associated with several NACE codes, in particular C26, C27, J58.29, J61, J62 and J63.1 in accordance with the statistical classification of economic activities established by Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006.

An economic activity in this category is an enabling activity in accordance with Article 13(1), point (l), of Regulation (EU) 2020/852 where it complies with the technical screening criteria set out in this Section.

5. Services

5.1.   Repair, refurbishment and remanufacturing

Repair (²⁸), refurbishment (²⁹) and remanufacturing (³⁰) of goods that have been used for their intended purpose before by a customer (physical person or legal person).

The economic activity does not include replacement of consumables (³¹), such as printer ink, toner cartridges, lubricants for moving parts or batteries.

The economic activity relates to products that are manufactured by economic activities classified under the NACE codes C13 Manufacture of textiles, C14 Manufacture of wearing apparel, C15 Manufacture of leather and related products, C16 Manufacture of wood and of products of wood and cork, except furniture; manufacture of articles of straw and plaiting materials, C22 Manufacture of rubber and plastic products, C23.3 Manufacture of clay building materials, C23.4 Manufacture of other porcelain and ceramic products, C25.1 Manufacture of structural metal products, C25.2 Manufacture of tanks, reservoirs and containers of metal, C25.7 Manufacture of cutlery, tools and general hardware, C25.9 Manufacture of other fabricated metal products, C26 Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products, C27 Manufacture of electrical equipment, C28.22 Manufacture of lifting and handling equipment, C28.23 Manufacture of office machinery and equipment (except computers and peripheral equipment), C28.24 Manufacture of power-driven hand tools, C28.25 Manufacture of non-domestic cooling and ventilation equipment, C28.93 Manufacture of machinery for food, beverage and tobacco processing, excluding machinery for tobacco processing, C28.94 Manufacture of machinery for textile, apparel and leather production, C28.95 Manufacture of machinery for paper and paperboard production, C28.96 Manufacture of plastic and rubber machinery, C31 Manufacture of furniture and C32 Other manufacturing.

The economic activities in this category have no dedicated NACE codes as referred to in the statistical classification of economic activities established by Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006.

5.2.   Sale of spare parts

Sale of spare parts (³²).

The economic activity does not include replacement of consumables, such as printer ink, toner cartridges, lubricants for moving parts or batteries and maintenance.

The economic activity relates to spare parts that are used in products manufactured by economic activities classified under the NACE codes C26 Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products, C27 Manufacture of electrical equipment, C28.22 Manufacture of lifting and handling equipment, C28.23 Manufacture of office machinery and equipment (except computers and peripheral equipment), C28.24 Manufacture of power-driven hand tools and C31 Manufacture of furniture.

The economic activities in this category could be associated with several NACE codes, in particular G46 and G47 in accordance with the statistical classification of economic activities established by Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006.

5.3.   Preparation for re-use of end-of-life products and product components

Preparation for re-use of products and components at the end of life (³³).

The economic activity does not include repair activities, which are performed during the product’s use stage.

The economic activity relates to products and their components manufactured by economic activities classified under the NACE codes C13 Manufacture of textiles, C14 Manufacture of wearing apparel, C15 Manufacture of leather and related products, C16 Manufacture of wood and of products of wood and cork, except furniture; manufacture of articles of straw and plaiting materials, C18 Printing and reproduction of recorded media, C22 Manufacture of rubber and plastic products, C23.3 Manufacture of clay building materials, C23.4 Manufacture of other porcelain and ceramic products, C25.1 Manufacture of structural metal products, C25.2 Manufacture of tanks, reservoirs and containers of metal, C25.7 Manufacture of cutlery, tools and general hardware, C25.9 Manufacture of other fabricated metal products, C26 Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products, C27 Manufacture of electrical equipment, C28.22 Manufacture of lifting and handling equipment, C28.23 Manufacture of office machinery and equipment (except computers and peripheral equipment), C28.24 Manufacture of power-driven hand tools, C28.25 Manufacture of non-domestic cooling and ventilation equipment, C28.93 Manufacture of machinery for food, beverage and tobacco processing, excluding machinery for tobacco processing, C28.94 Manufacture of machinery for textile, apparel and leather production, C28.95 Manufacture of machinery for paper and paperboard production, C28.96 Manufacture of plastic and rubber machinery, C29 Manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers, C30.1 Building of ships and boats, C30.2 Manufacture of railway locomotives and rolling stock, C30.3 Manufacture of air and spacecraft and related machinery, C30.9 Manufacture of transport equipment n.e.c., C31 Manufacture of furniture and C32 Other manufacturing.

The economic activities in this category have no dedicated NACE code as referred to in the statistical classification of economic activities established by Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006.

5.4.   Sale of second-hand goods

Sale of second-hand goods that have been used for their intended purpose before by a customer (physical person or legal person), possibly after repair, refurbishment or remanufacturing.

The economic activity relates to products manufactured by economic activities classified under the NACE codes C13 Manufacture of textiles, C14 Manufacture of wearing apparel, C15 Manufacture of leather and related products, C16 Manufacture of wood and of products of wood and cork, except furniture; manufacture of articles of straw and plaiting materials, C18 Printing and reproduction of recorded media, C22 Manufacture of rubber and plastic products, C23.3 Manufacture of clay building materials, C23.4 Manufacture of other porcelain and ceramic products, C25.1 Manufacture of structural metal products, C25.2 Manufacture of tanks, reservoirs and containers of metal, C25.7 Manufacture of cutlery, tools and general hardware, C25.9 Manufacture of other fabricated metal products, C26 Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products, C27 Manufacture of electrical equipment, C28.22 Manufacture of lifting and handling equipment, C28.23 Manufacture of office machinery and equipment (except computers and peripheral equipment), C28.24 Manufacture of power-driven hand tools, C28.25 Manufacture of non-domestic cooling and ventilation equipment, C28.93 Manufacture of machinery for food, beverage and tobacco processing, excluding machinery for tobacco processing, C28.94 Manufacture of machinery for textile, apparel and leather production, C28.95 Manufacture of machinery for paper and paperboard production, C28.96 Manufacture of plastic and rubber machinery, C29 Manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers, C31 Manufacture of furniture, C32 Other manufacturing.

The economic activities in this category could be associated with several NACE codes, in particular G46 and G47 in accordance with the statistical classification of economic activities established by Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006.

5.5.   Product-as-a-service and other circular use- and result-oriented service models

Providing customers (physical person or legal person) with access to products through service models, which are either use-oriented services, where the product is still central, but its ownership remains with the provider and the product is leased, shared, rented or pooled; or result-oriented, where the payment is pre-defined and the agreed result (i.e. pay per service unit) is delivered.

The economic activity covers products that are manufactured by economic activities classified under the NACE codes C13 Manufacture of textiles, C14 Manufacture of wearing apparel, C15 Manufacture of leather and related products, C16 Manufacture of wood and of products of wood and cork, except furniture; manufacture of articles of straw and plaiting materials, C22 Manufacture of rubber and plastic products, C23.3 Manufacture of clay building materials, C23.4 Manufacture of other porcelain and ceramic products, C25.1 Manufacture of structural metal products, C25.2 Manufacture of tanks, reservoirs and containers of metal, C25.7 Manufacture of cutlery, tools and general hardware, C25.9 Manufacture of other fabricated metal products, C26 Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products, C27 Manufacture of electrical equipment, C28.22 Manufacture of lifting and handling equipment, C28.23 Manufacture of office machinery and equipment (except computers and peripheral equipment), C28.24 Manufacture of power-driven hand tools, C28.25 Manufacture of non-domestic cooling and ventilation equipment, C28.93 Manufacture of machinery for food, beverage and tobacco processing, excluding machinery for tobacco processing, C28.94 Manufacture of machinery for textile, apparel and leather production, C28.95 Manufacture of machinery for paper and paperboard production, C28.96 Manufacture of plastic and rubber machinery, C31 Manufacture of furniture and C32 Other manufacturing.

The economic activities in this category could be associated with several NACE codes, in particular G46, G47, and N.77 in accordance with the statistical classification of economic activities established by Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006.

5.6.   Marketplace for the trade of second-hand goods for reuse

Development and operation of marketplaces (³⁴) and classifieds (³⁵) for the trade (sale or exchange) of second-hand products, materials or components for reuse, where the marketplaces and classifieds act as an intermediary to match buyers seeking a service or product with sellers or providers of those products or services.

The economic activity covers marketplaces and classifieds supporting B2B, B2C and Customer to Customer (C2C) sales. The activity covers services such as buyer-seller linking, payment or delivery service.

The economic activity does not include the wholesale or retail trade of second-hand goods.

The economic activity relates to products that are manufactured by economic activities classified under the NACE codes C10 Manufacture of food products, C11 Manufacture of beverages, C13 Manufacture of textiles, C14 Manufacture of wearing apparel, C15 Manufacture of leather and related products, C16 Manufacture of wood and of products of wood and cork, except furniture; manufacture of articles of straw and plaiting materials, C17 Manufacture of paper and paper products, C18 Printing and reproduction of recorded media, C22 Manufacture of rubber and plastic products, C23.3 Manufacture of clay building materials, C23.4 Manufacture of other porcelain and ceramic products, C24 Manufacture of basic metals, C25.1 Manufacture of structural metal products, C25.2 Manufacture of tanks, reservoirs and containers of metal, C25.7 Manufacture of cutlery, tools and general hardware, C25.9 Manufacture of other fabricated metal products, C26 Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products, C27 Manufacture of electrical equipment, C28.22 Manufacture of lifting and handling equipment, C28.23 Manufacture of office machinery and equipment (except computers and peripheral equipment), C28.24 Manufacture of power-driven hand tools, C28.25 Manufacture of non-domestic cooling and ventilation equipment, C28.93 Manufacture of machinery for food, beverage and tobacco processing, excluding machinery for tobacco processing, C28.94 Manufacture of machinery for textile, apparel and leather production, C28.95 Manufacture of machinery for paper and paperboard production, C28.96 Manufacture of plastic and rubber machinery, C31 Manufacture of furniture and C32 Other manufacturing.

The economic activities in this category could be associated with several NACE codes, in particular J58.29, J61, J62 and J63.1 in accordance with the statistical classification of economic activities established by Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006.

An economic activity in this category is an enabling activity in accordance with Article 13(1), point (l), of Regulation (EU) 2020/852 where it complies with the technical screening criteria set out in this Section.

Appendix A

I. Criteria

The physical climate risks that are material to the activity have been identified from those listed in the table in Section II of this Appendix by performing a robust climate risk and vulnerability assessment with the following steps:

(a) screening of the activity to identify which physical climate risks from the list in Section II of this Appendix may affect the performance of the economic activity during its expected lifetime;

(b) where the activity is assessed to be at risk from one or more of the physical climate risks listed in Section II of this Appendix, a climate risk and vulnerability assessment to assess the materiality of the physical climate risks on the economic activity;

(c) an assessment of adaptation solutions that can reduce the identified physical climate risk.

The climate risk and vulnerability assessment is proportionate to the scale of the activity and its expected lifespan, such that:

(a) for activities with an expected lifespan of less than 10 years, the assessment is performed, at least by using climate projections at the smallest appropriate scale;

(b) for all other activities, the assessment is performed using the highest available resolution, state-of-the-art climate projections across the existing range of future scenarios (³⁶) consistent with the expected lifetime of the activity, including, at least, 10- to 30-year climate projections scenarios for major investments.

The climate projections and assessment of impacts are based on best practice and available guidance and take into account the state-of-the-art science for vulnerability and risk analysis and related methodologies in line with the most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports (³⁷), scientific peer-reviewed publications, and open source (³⁸) or paying models.

For existing activities and new activities using existing physical assets, the economic operator implements physical and non-physical solutions (‘adaptation solutions’), over a period of time of up to five years, that reduce the most important identified physical climate risks that are material to that activity. An adaptation plan for the implementation of those solutions is drawn up accordingly.

For new activities and existing activities using newly-built physical assets, the economic operator integrates the adaptation solutions that reduce the most important identified physical climate risks that are material to that activity at the time of design and construction and has implemented them before the start of operations.

The adaptation solutions implemented do not adversely affect the adaptation efforts or the level of resilience to physical climate risks of other people, of nature, of cultural heritage, of assets and of other economic activities; are consistent with local, sectoral, regional or national adaptation strategies and plans; and consider the use of nature-based solutions (³⁹) or rely on blue or green infrastructure (⁴⁰) to the extent possible.

II.   Classification of climate-related hazards (⁴¹)

Appendix B

Environmental degradation risks related to preserving water quality and avoiding water stress are identified and addressed with the aim of achieving good water status and good ecological potential as defined in Article 2, points (22) and (23), of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, in accordance with Directive 2000/60/EC (⁴²) and a water use and protection management plan, developed thereunder for the potentially affected water body or bodies, in consultation with relevant stakeholders.

Where an Environmental Impact Assessment is carried out in accordance with Directive 2011/92/EU and includes an assessment of the impact on water in accordance with Directive 2000/60/EC, no additional assessment of impact on water is required, provided the risks identified have been addressed.

The activity does not hamper the achievement of good environmental status of marine waters or does not deteriorate marine waters that are already in good environmental status as defined in point 5 of Article 3 of Directive 2008/56/EC (⁴³), taking into account the Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848 in relation to the relevant criteria and methodological standards for those descriptors.

Appendix C

Appendix D

An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) or screening (⁴⁴) has been completed in accordance with Directive 2011/92/EU (⁴⁵).

Where an EIA has been carried out, the required mitigation and compensation measures for protecting the environment are implemented.

For sites/operations located in or near biodiversity-sensitive areas (including the Natura 2000 network of protected areas, UNESCO World Heritage sites and Key Biodiversity Areas, as well as other protected areas), an appropriate assessment (⁴⁶), where applicable, has been conducted and based on its conclusions the necessary mitigation measures (⁴⁷) are implemented.

ANNEX III

1. Manufacturing

1.1.   Manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) or active substances

Manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) or active substances.

The economic activities in this category could be associated with NACE code C21.1 in accordance with the statistical classification of economic activities established by Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006.