The European Union (EU) Council has recently adopted its general approach on the Green Claims Directive, targeting cosmetic companies’ environmental claims. This directive aims to address the issue of greenwashing, where companies make misleading claims about the environmental benefits of their products.
Under the new rules, cosmetic companies must substantiate any environmental claims they make with scientific evidence and clear specifications. These claims, which can include statements about environmental impacts, carbon emissions, performance, or trade, will also require third-party verification unless the companies are exempted. Additionally, public and private labeling schemes must adhere to these rules, although there are some exemptions for schemes governed at the EU or national level.
A notable aspect of the directive is the regulation of carbon offset claims. Companies must provide detailed information about the carbon credits they use and demonstrate progress towards achieving net-zero emissions. This requirement ensures transparency and accountability, preventing companies from making unsubstantiated claims about their environmental efforts.
The directive will apply to both existing and future environmental labeling schemes. To provide clarity, the EU Council has made a distinction between explicit environmental claims and environmental labels, setting specific obligations for each. This differentiation aims to enhance the reliability of environmental information provided to consumers.
Alain Maron, Minister of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region responsible for climate change, environment, energy, and participatory democracy, emphasized the importance of this agreement. “We reached an important agreement to fight greenwashing by setting rules on clear, sufficient, and evidence-based information on the environmental characteristics of products and services. Our aim is to help European citizens make well-founded green choices,” he commented.
The general approach will serve as the foundation for discussions with the European Parliament, with negotiations expected to begin during the new legislative cycle. Microenterprises will benefit from an extended compliance period of an additional 14 months, along with guidelines, resources, funding, and training to ease the administrative burden of adhering to the new regulations.
