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\u201cWe have achieved an excellent deal for consumers,\u201d said the S&D\u2019s Biljana Borzan, a Croatian EU lawmaker who spearheaded the negotiations on behalf of Parliament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The law, which still requires final approval by EU countries and the parliament\u2019s plenary assembly \u2013 a formality \u2013 will be felt from 2026, as EU countries will be given two years\u2019 time to adopt the changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Greenwashing, the practice of making misleading claims as to a product\u2019s climate friendliness, is expected to cease rather quickly. \u201cWe are clearing the chaos of environmental claims, which will now have to be substantiated, and claims based on emissions offsetting will be banned,\u201d said Borzan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In practice, the changes will mean that companies are effectively prohibited from making such claims altogether. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere is no such thing as \u2018carbon-neutral\u2019 or \u2018CO2 neutral\u2019 cheese, plastic bottles, flights or bank accounts. Carbon-neutral claims are greenwashing, plain and simple,\u201d said Ursula Pachl, the deputy director of EU consumer advocates BEUC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Frequent fliers may soon notice changes in airlines\u2019 booking interfaces, where suspiciously cheap carbon offsetting offers will no longer be allowed to sell \u201cclimate-neutral\u201d flying. After all, carbon offsetting is a practice reviled by activists for the rampant fraud in the industry and its non-permanent nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe EU is sending a powerful signal to the voluntary carbon market: the era of offsetting is over,\u201d said Gilles Dufrasne, policy lead at Carbon Market Watch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The new law will also firm up rules around environmental claims, which will have to be backed by proof of recognised performance. Widespread product affixes like \u201cEco\u201d and \u201cnatural\u201d will need to be backed by solid evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe agreement is good news for all who want to shop sustainably,\u201d cheered Anna Cavazzini, a green EU lawmaker in charge of the consumer protection committee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Similarly important \u2013 product labels are slated to receive a major boost as well. Expected product lifetime will need to be declared by their sellers. \u201cIt\u2019s important that consumers are informed on how long a washing machine or TV is expected to last,\u201d said Pachl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In practice, the impacts of the measure are far from certain. \u201cCompanies are smart, and we\u2019ll need to observe how they react to this,\u201d said Elisa Martellucci of the standards group Ecos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n