The ban on greenwashing in the EU is enforceable from September 27. No transition period.
The EmpCo Directive (EU) 2024/825 has expanded the “black list” of business practices that are unfair under all circumstances. It is now prohibited:
- to claim that a product is “carbon neutral” or “climate positive” solely because of purchasing offsets
- to use generic statements such as “eco‑friendly” or “green” without recognized outstanding environmental performance
- to display sustainability labels that are not backed by a certification scheme
The rules also apply to packaging that is already on the shelves. And not only food or cosmetics – also banks, tourism and energy.
The transposition is uneven: by September, 16 countries had completed it, 11 had not. The Czech amendment stalled in the Chamber of Deputies – however, the Competition Authority can already sanction misleading green claims under the existing law.
If companies use such claims, they should create documentation for each and substantiate any net‑zero commitments with an implementation plan verified by an independent expert.
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