European Parliament passes greenwashing ‘ban’
The European Parliament has agreed on a directive that aims to improve product labelling and ban the use of misleading environmental claims to help consumers make better purchasing choices.
The directive bans the use of general environmental claims like “environmentally friendly”, “natural”, “biodegradable”, “climate neutral” or “eco” without proof.
The use of sustainability labels will also now be regulated. In the future, only sustainability labels based on official certification schemes or established by public authorities will be allowed in the EU.
Additionally, the directive will ban claims that a product has a neutral, reduced or positive impact on the environment because of emissions offsetting schemes.
Another objective is making producers and consumers focus more on the durability of goods. Guarantees will have to be more visible and a new, harmonised label will be created to give more prominence to goods with an extended guarantee period.
However, last March, leather industry body COTANCE and its footwear counterpart CEC complained of a loophole. They were among a wide range of organisations stating many online sellers will be able to sidestep the Green Claims Directive and make false claims about their products without having to face any consequences.
The directive needs to receive final approval from the Council, after which it will be published in the Official Journal and member states will have 24 months to transpose it into national law.
