Overview

The UK Government has completed a formal review of its Environmental Improvement Plan 2023 (EIP23) and published the updated Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 (EIP 2025), in line with obligations under the Environment Act 2021.

The review assesses delivery progress, refines statutory and interim targets, and strengthens governance to ensure environmental objectives are clearer, measurable, and achievable, particularly toward 2030 milestones.

Key enhancements include:

  • Clear allocation of responsibilities across government
  • Stronger performance metrics and monitoring
  • Improved coordination with industry and stakeholders
  • Revised interim targets aligned with long-term statutory goals

Nature & Biodiversity Goals

Goal Statutory Target Interim Target (2030) Notes / Changes
Species abundance Halt decline by 2030; +10% +10% Stronger reliance on measurable datasets
Red List Index Improve by 2042 Ongoing improvement Tracks species extinction risk
Wildlife habitats 500,000 ha restored/created by 2042 250,000 ha Focus beyond protected areas
SSSI condition 70% favourable by 2042 50% on track Full assessment deferred to 2032
Tree canopy & woodland ≥16.5% land cover by 2050 +0.33% (~43,000 ha) Updated forest inventory
Marine Protected Areas 70% favourable by 2042 ≥49% favourable, ≥46% recovering Updated MPA condition data
Farm wildlife New Year-round habitat support New statutory focus
Invasive non-native species New ≥50% reduction vs 2000 baseline New control objective

Air Quality Goals

Goal Statutory Target Interim Target (2030) Notes
PM2.5 population exposure −35% by 2040 −30% Health-focused exposure metric
PM2.5 annual mean ≤10 µg/m³ by 2040 ≤10 µg/m³ Achieves statutory limit a decade early

Water Quality & Water Use Goals

Goal Statutory Target Interim Target (2030) Notes / Changes
Mine water pollution Halve metal-polluted rivers by 2038 8 schemes + 20 interventions Priority catchments
Agricultural pollution −40% nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment ≥12% (≥18% in protected areas) Interim progress marker
Phosphorus from wastewater −80% by 2038 55% reduction Increased ambition
Water demand per capita −20% by 2038 9% by 2027; 14% by 2032 Efficiency focus
Leakage reduction – 20% by 2027; 30% by 2032 Supply-side resilience

Waste & Resource Efficiency Goals

Goal Statutory Target Notes
Residual waste Reduce by 2042 Excludes major mineral waste; improved measurement

Industry-Specific Regulatory Implications

Automotive & Battery Industries
  • Zero-Emission Transition
    The EIP reinforces the UK’s legally binding pathway toward road transport decarbonisation, supporting:

    • 80% of new cars and 70% of new vans to be zero-emission by 2030
    • 100% zero-emission new car and van sales by 2035
  • Industrial Impact
    • Accelerated EV and battery supply-chain localisation
    • Pressure to reduce lifecycle emissions in vehicle and battery manufacturing
    • Alignment with tighter air-quality and industrial emissions permitting regimes
Chemicals Industry – UK REACH Reform
  • Regulatory CommitmentThe EIP confirms a formal commitment to reform UK REACH by December 2028, aiming to:
    • Enable faster regulatory decision-making
    • Reduce unnecessary duplication
    • Improve alignment with trusted international partners
    • Maintain high standards of human health and environmental protection
  • Impact on Downstream Sectors
    Automotive, battery, electronics, packaging, and specialty chemical users will need to:

    • Monitor revised substance evaluation and restriction processes
    • Anticipate changes to authorisation and SVHC management
    • Update compliance and supply-chain strategies
PFAS (Forever Chemicals) Risk Management
  • PFAS Action Plan
    The EIP commits to publishing a UK PFAS Action Plan by 2026, covering:

    • Identification and monitoring of PFAS sources
    • Controls on releases to air, land, and water
    • Improved exposure assessment and risk management
  • Future Restrictions
    • A regulatory decision on PFAS restrictions in firefighting foams under UK REACH is planned by 2027
    • Broader PFAS controls may affect coatings, surface treatments, battery components, textiles, and food-contact packaging
Packaging & Circular Economy
  • Systemic Reform
    EIP 2025 reinforces the transition to a circular economy through:

    • Simpler, consistent recycling systems across England
    • Expanded separate waste collections
    • Near-elimination of biodegradable municipal waste to landfill by 2028
  • Business Implications
    • Stronger eco-design and material efficiency requirements
    • Increased responsibility for packaging producers
    • Innovation opportunities in recyclable and reusable materials

Summary & Regulatory Significance

The Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 provides a strengthened and legally anchored roadmap to 2030 and beyond, ensuring that environmental protection, industrial competitiveness, and regulatory certainty advance together.

Key takeaways:

    • Clearer accountability and measurable interim targets
    • Stronger alignment with the Environment Act 2021
    • Direct regulatory relevance for automotive, battery, chemical, PFAS-using, and packaging industries
    • Increased certainty on zero-emission mobility, UK REACH reform by 2028, PFAS controls, and circular economy obligations

EIP 2025 positions environmental regulation as a central driver of the UK’s long-term industrial transformation and sustainability strategy.

Source: UK Environmental Plan 2025

Reach out to our regulation experts on chemical and product regulatory compliances

CONTACT US