The European Commission is preparing to take a more robust stance against #greenwashing by regulating how companies justify and communicate their #green claims.
For companies that manufacture products or offer services and use environmental or sustainability claims such as “T-shirt made from recycled plastic bottles,” “CO2-offset shipping,” “packaging made from 30% recycled plastic,” “ocean-friendly sunscreen,” or similar, will need to pay closer attention to the validity of these claims going forward.
The new requirements stipulate that before companies make any of the “green claims” included in the directive to consumers, such claims must be independently verified and supported by scientific evidence. The new rules also aim to curb the proliferation of private eco-labels, as there are currently at least 230 different green labels in use, which cause confusion and mistrust among consumers. Under the new rules, new labeling schemes will not be permitted.
A recent study found that 53% of the environmental and sustainability claims examined in the European Union were unclear, misleading, or unsubstantiated, and 40% were unsubstantiated. Thus, all too often, these claims are made without any evidence or justification.
Read more here: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_23_1692