On 11 May, Members of the European Parliament supported a legislative proposal to improve product labelling, expiry dates and to end the use of misleading claims.
With 544 votes in favour, 18 against and 17 abstentions, a proposal for a new directive on empowering consumers for the green transition was approved in a plenary session. Its main goal is to help consumers make environmentally friendly choices and encourage companies to offer them more durable and sustainable products.
Banning misleading advertising and generic environmental claims
The mandate approved by Parliament for negotiations provides for a ban on the use of generic environmental claims such as 'environmentally friendly', 'natural', 'biodegradable', 'climate neutral' or 'eco' unless they are accompanied by detailed proof. It also aims to ban environmental claims based solely on carbon dioxide emissions offsetting schemes. Other misleading practices will also be banned, such as making claims about an entire product when the claim relates to only one part of it, or claiming that a product will last for a certain time or be usable at a certain intensity if this is not true.
To simplify information about products, MEPs plan to allow only those sustainability labels that are based on official certification schemes or established by public authorities.
Combatting premature obsolescence
To ensure products last longer, Parliament wants to ban the introduction of design features that limit a product's lifespan or lead to goods failing prematurely. Furthermore, manufacturers should not be allowed to restrict the functionality of goods when used with consumables, spare parts or accessories produced by other companies (such as chargers or ink cartridges).
To help people choose longer-lasting and repairable goods, buyers should be informed about any potential repair restrictions before making a purchase. In addition, MEPs are proposing a new guarantee label that would indicate not only the legal guarantee period but also the duration of any possible guarantee extensions offered by manufacturers. This would help to highlight high-quality goods and motivate companies to pay more attention to durability.
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Following the vote, rapporteur Biljana Borzan (S&D, HR) said: “Industry will no longer profit from producing consumer goods that break exactly when the guarantee period ends. Consumers will have to be provided with clear information about repair options and costs. Product labels will inform citizens which goods have a guaranteed longer lifespan, and manufacturers whose goods are more durable will gain an advantage. The ‘jungle’ of false environmental claims will end, as only certified and substantiated ecological claims will be allowed.”
Next steps
The EU Council approved its negotiating mandate on 3 May. This means that negotiations between Parliament and member states on the final content and wording of the directive can begin soon.
Background information
The proposed directive is part of the first circular economy legislative package, along with the Ecodesign Regulation, the Construction Products Regulation, and an own-initiative report on the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles. It paves the way for a new directive on 'green claims', which will further specify the conditions for making environmental claims in the future.
By adopting this legislation, Parliament is responding to citizens' expectations regarding sustainable consumption, packaging and production, as well as sustainable growth and innovation, as expressed in points 1, 7 and 10 of proposal 5 and point 2 of proposal 11 of the conclusions of the Conference on the Future of Europe.