The environmental sector (environmental goods and services sector, EGSS) consists of companies and institutions that are involved in activities with respect to measuring, preventing, limiting, minimising or correcting environmental damage to water, air and soil as well as problems related to waste, noise and ecosystems. This definition includes 'cleaner technologies' and 'cleaner goods and services' which reduce environmental risk and minimise the use of natural resources and pollution. The definition of the environmental goods and services sector is determined at the European level and it is used by EU countries accordingly.
As of 2017, CBS is required to provide figures on the environmental sector to Eurostat. In order to allow for international comparability, the international directives have been tightened. As a result, the activities ‘second-hand shops’ and ‘wholesale trade in waste and scrap’ are no longer classified under the environmental sector. In the past, these activities were incorporated; removal has led to lower economic figures.
Back to article