False assertions, fanciful labels, dubious climate reports… The legislative project on which the Twenty-Seven voted aims to eliminate all environmental assertions which are not based on factual bases.
The Twenty-Seven are tackling the “greenwashing” of brands. After having adopted at the end of February a text banning so-called “generic” environmental claims deemed misleading (“green product”, “100% natural”, etc.), the EU States agreed on Monday June 17 on a text banning the greenwashing of labels and other advertising with “green” tones. Led by Hungary, which is due to take over the rotating presidency of the EU Council in July, the countries will begin talks with the European Parliament to finalize the legislation.
This legislative project, on which European environment ministers met in Luxembourg voted on Monday, is intended to be more ambitious than the position adopted in mid-March by MEPs. It aims to eliminate all environmental claims that are not based on factual bases. “Recycled”, “CO2 neutral”, “biodegradable”: these formulas must be verified beforehand with “clear criteria” framed in terms of recyclability, sustainability, etc.
The text provides that ecological claims must be justified by recent and scientifically recognized data, identifying all impacts. Environmental certification systems, subject to the same criteria, should be transparent and regularly reviewed. As for the official Ecolabel designed by the EU, it would be exempt.
Finally, companies should have the validity of their claims verified by accredited “independent verifiers”, under penalty of sanctions. To do this, states support the introduction of a “simplified procedure” for certain types of allegations and ask that microenterprises have an additional 8 months to comply with the new rules, according to a press release from the Council of the EU.

The States of the European Union agree on a text aimed at combating “greenwashing”
After the adoption at the end of February of a first measure to combat greenwashing, a new, more ambitious legislative project could ask companies to justify their claims with scientific data.