EU Directive 2024/1785 was introduced to establish a more consistent and harmonised approach to environmental and public health protection across all Member States. To achieve this objective, Member States are required to transpose the Directive into their national legislation by 1 July 2026. By that date, national governments must adopt all legislative, regulatory and administrative measures necessary to comply with the new European standards on pollutant emissions.
Below are the main changes introduced by EU Directive 2024/1785.

One of the central elements of EU Directive 2024/1785 is the strengthened role of Best Available Techniques (BAT), which represent the most effective techniques for preventing or reducing industrial emissions. The revised Directive also places greater emphasis on the assessment and adoption of emerging techniques.
To support the uniform application of BATs across Member States, the European Union relies on BREF documents (BAT Reference Documents) which define the associated performance levels, monitoring requirements and reference technologies. As a result, environmental permits must be aligned with the BAT Conclusions published by the European Commission.
The Directive also promotes the evaluation of emerging techniques, defined as innovative solutions capable of delivering an equal or higher level of environmental and health protection compared to currently available technologies.

BAT-AELs (BAT-Associated Emission Levels) represent the emission levels associated with the application of Best Available Techniques.
Under EU Directive 2024/1785, it will no longer be sufficient for installations to comply with the upper, less stringent limit of the allowed range. Instead, competent authorities will be required to set emission limits closer to the best performance levels technically achievable by that specific installation.
This approach will have a significant impact on Integrated Environmental Permits (IEPs) and on the assessment of plant environmental performance. Consequently, companies will need an increasingly accurate understanding of the actual removal efficiencies that can be achieved by their installed air pollution control technologies.

The Directive strengthens transparency requirements while introducing a more rigorous penalty system.
Key measures include:

• digitalisation and accessibility of environmental data;
• enhanced monitoring of emission performance;
• stricter penalties for non-compliance resulting in significant impacts on human health or the environment.

In this context, continuous emissions monitoring and the implementation of effective air pollution control systems become increasingly strategic. They are essential to ensure regulatory compliance while reducing both operational and environmental risks.

For the first time, European legislation explicitly recognises odour as a potential form of pollution, acknowledging its relevance in assessing the environmental impact of industrial activities, particularly in the livestock and waste management sectors.
The Directive does not mandate the use of a specific air pollution control technology, but requires to guarantee compliance with the performance levels established by the applicable Best Available Techniques (BAT).
Selecting the most appropriate solution generally requires a preliminary assessment of several process parameters including flow rate, pollutant composition, temperature, process variability and operating conditions. The most suitable technology depends on a combination of technical factors and cannot be determined solely by the industrial sector involved.
Below are some of the most widely adopted solutions for odour and gaseous emission control.

Biofilters are among the most widely used technologies for controlling odour emissions.
Their operating principle is based on the action of microorganisms within the filter media, which biologically degrade the compounds responsible for odours.
Biofiltration is commonly applied to treat air streams containing odorous compounds generated by a wide range of industrial processes. System performance depends on the proper management of operating conditions, including appropriate moisture levels, temperature and uniform airflow distribution throughout the filter bed.

Wet scrubbers are air washing systems used for the abatement of both organic and inorganic gaseous pollutants.
By ensuring contact between the contaminated air and a liquid solution, this technology significantly reduces concentrations of particulate matter as well as compounds responsible for odour emissions. They are particularly effective for treating water-soluble compounds and acidic or alkaline gaseous contaminants.

Activated carbon filters are air treatment systems based on the principle of adsorption, capable of retaining numerous Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and odorous organic substances.
Thanks to the high specific surface area of the filtering media, these systems are particularly effective for treating air streams containing low to moderate pollutant concentrations.
Their overall performance depends on the correct selection of the activated carbon according to the characteristics of the contaminants present in the process air.

Thermal oxidizers are designed to destroy gaseous pollutants through high-temperature oxidation.
They are particularly effective for treating Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and other odorous organic compounds present in high-concentration air streams.
During the oxidation process contaminants are converted into simple, non-hazardous compounds such as carbon dioxide and water vapour.

AEROX plasma technology is an innovative solution for treating atmospheric pollutants, utilizing cold plasma to oxidize and degrade contaminant molecules.
Its versatility makes it suitable for a wide range of industrial applications, provided that the characteristics of the pollutants and the required treatment objectives are carefully evaluated during the design phase.

In view of the evolving European regulatory framework, many industrial operators are already assessing the emission performance of their installations and evaluating their level of alignment with the applicable Best Available Techniques (BAT).
In this context, a thorough assessment of production processes and pollutant characteristics is essential to identify potential areas for improvement and support informed investment decisions.

For more than 40 years, Tecnosida has been designing and manufacturing tailor-made air pollution treatment systems, helping companies across a wide range of sectors in managing emissions of dust, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), odours and gaseous pollutants.
This experience allows us to identify the most suitable technologies based on the characteristics of the production process, the pollutants to be treated and the environmental objectives to be achieved.
Bag filters, cartridge filters, activated carbon systems, wet scrubbers, biofilters and thermal oxidizers are among the solutions developed by Tecnosida to help improve environmental performance and support compliance with the evolving requirements of European environmental legislation.
The IED 2.0 poses a challenge for companies subject to the regulation, but it also presents an opportunity to optimize process efficiency and minimize the environmental impact of industrial activities. A comprehensive technical assessment of existing installations allows operators to compare current performance with the applicable BAT requirements, identify potential improvement measures and develop a long-term compliance strategy that is aligned with future regulatory developments.
If you would like to assess the performance of your air pollution control system or discuss the most suitable solution for your application, contact Tecnosida to arrange a consultation with our technical specialists.