EU Puts Red Light on Greenwashing: Agreement Reached on New Laws Targeting Greenwashing
Summary
Unverified claims that suggest a product has a neutral, reduced or positive impact on the environment also will be banned. This label will be for producers that wish to highlight that they are offering – free of charge – an extended guarantee that goes beyond the two-year EU minimum. The provisional agreement will now need to be agreed and formally adopted by both the European Council and Parliament, which is expected to happen in November 2023. This agreement is another step in a general crackdown at the EU level of perceived greenwashing practices. In our view, it’s very likely we’ll see class actions in relation to greenwashing and early obsolescence, as there are some very active consumer organisations in the EU that will likely look to bring test cases.