An end to Greenwashing in the EU?

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A BASIS FOR CHANGE
In 2019 the EC stated that “reliable, comparable and verifiable information also plays an important part in enabling buyers to make more sustainable decisions and reduces the risk of greenwashing.” The consequences of lack of appropriate information include loss of consumer welfare, negative environmental impacts resulting from misinformed choices, and harm to single market by affecting fair competition across the Union. Indeed, during a 2020 inventory on environmental claims across various sectors, the EC found that 53% of claims provide vague, misleading or unfounded environmental product information, and that 40% of claims were unsubstantiated. Within this 2020 sweep, 17% of the total misleading sustainability claims covered were related to cosmetics or personal care goods.