In an effort to provide consumers with more information and transparency about the environmental impact of their products, the EU has proposed a green labeling system. This system has been supplemented by the EU Parliament and agreed upon by the 27 EU states in the EU Council. The goal of the system is to ensure that companies can scientifically prove the green attributes of their products according to uniform EU standards.
However, some concerns have been raised by certain EU states, such as Austria, about the potential burden this system may place on smaller companies. In response, a simplified procedure has been proposed that allows companies to reference existing environmental labels, such as the Ecolabel in Austria. This will allow consumers to have confidence in the environmental claims of products without placing too much of a burden on smaller companies.
Negotiations are ongoing within the EU institutions, with details expected to be finalized in the autumn. Once a compromise is reached, each EU state will need to translate the directive into their own laws. However, there are still uncertainties and challenges around holding companies accountable for misleading claims and ensuring accurate carbon footprint calculations.
Overall, while the legislative plans aim to provide consumers with more information and transparency about their products’ environmental impact, there are still concerns about enforcement and practicalities of implementing
