Glossary
Glossary term

adverse environmental impact

A regulatory term referring to an adverse impact on the environment resulting from the breach of the prohibitions and obligations listed in Part I.

1 official sourcessingle_source

What does adverse environmental impact mean?

Adverse environmental impact is part of the formal vocabulary used in supply-chain due diligence, adverse-impact governance, and corporate responsibility. For this glossary, the key point is understanding how the source defines the term and where that definition sits within broader compliance or data requirements.

Official definitions by source

CSDDD

Directive (EU) 2024/1760 on corporate sustainability due diligence

an adverse impact on the environment resulting from the breach of the prohibitions and obligations listed in Part I, Section 1, points 15 and 16, and Part II of the Annex to this Directive, taking into account national legislation linked to the provisions of the instruments listed therein;

Reference: Article 3, point b

View official source

Why it matters in practice

In practice, this term matters when companies collect, structure, verify, or communicate sustainability data within supply-chain due diligence, adverse-impact governance, and corporate responsibility.

Minespider commentary

For Minespider, adverse environmental impact is not just descriptive language. It is a modeling term that affects how sustainability, emissions, lifecycle, or product information should be captured and compared.

Common confusions

  • Assuming the everyday meaning of adverse environmental impact is enough without checking the official source definition.
  • Using adverse environmental impact as a loose generic label rather than the narrower meaning used in the source text.
  • Assuming adverse environmental impact can be interpreted without understanding methodology, scope, or lifecycle context.