The European Union has taken a significant step in consumer protection and the promotion of sustainable practices with the approval of Directive (EU) 2024/825 of the European Parliament and Council, dated February 28, 2024. This regulation modifies Directives 2005/29/EC and 2011/83/EU, focusing on empowering consumers for the green transition through better protection against unfair practices and clearer, more accurate information.
Key objectives of the directive
Known as the Anti-Greenwashing Directive, this regulation establishes new requirements for environmental claims about products, ensuring that consumers receive reliable, comparable, and verifiable information. The Directive addresses issues like premature obsolescence of goods, misleading environmental claims (also referred to as “greenwashing”), and false information about the social characteristics of products or companies.
New definitions introduced
Some of the new definitions introduced by the Directive include:
- Sustainability Label: A mark that distinguishes and promotes a product, process, or company for its environmental or social characteristics.
- Fungible Element: A component of a good that must be replaced for the good to function correctly.
- Generic Environmental Claim: A claim about environmental performance that is not clearly specified on the same medium.
Measures against deceptive practices
The Directive considers it misleading to make environmental claims without clear and verifiable commitments or to promote benefits that are irrelevant to consumers. These measures aim to encourage competition based on sustainability and prevent consumers from being misled.
Implementation deadlines
Member States must publish the necessary provisions to comply with the Directive by March 27, 2026. The regulation will come into force on September 27, 2026.
At SPG, we fully support this European Union initiative that promotes more sustainable consumption and protects consumer rights. We are committed to complying with these new regulations and continuing to offer products that respect both the environment and our customers’ expectations.