Ban on self-certified sustainability labels – GREENWASHING II
From 27 September 2026, the EmpCo Directive will impose an absolute ban on ‘self-certified’ sustainability labels and logos in the European Union. This is because this kind of labelling risks a lack of transparency and reliability, as well as making it more difficult for consumers to compare products and services based on sustainability – to which they are increasingly attaching importance when making purchasing decisions. In almost half of the active eco-labels in the EU analysed by the European Commission, no, or insufficient, verification of the products or services had been carried out. Self-certified sustainability labels are also a threat to fair competition. So what is the scope of the ban on them and what will the consequences be?