EC aims to simplify 'confusing' green claims

Consumers are also confused by the stream of incomparable and diverse environmental information: according to a recent Eurobarometer, 48 % of European consumers are confused by the stream of environmental information they receive. This also affects their readiness to make green purchases.

This complexity and variety of 'green' initiatives for products in the EU has prompted a new proposed initiative by the European Commission to create a single market for eco-claims.

The Single Market for Green Products initiative proposes a set of actions to overcome these problems as follows:

• it establishes two methods to measure environmental performance throughout the lifecycle, the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) and the Organisation Environmental Footprint (OEF);
• it recommends the use of these methods to Member States, companies, private organisations and the financial community through a Commission Recommendation;
• it announces a three-year testing period to develop product- and sector-specific rules through a multi-stakeholder process;
• it provides principles for communicating environmental performance, such as transparency, reliability, completeness, comparability and clarity;
• it supports international efforts towards more coordination in methodological development and data availability.

The three-year testing period will be launched soon. An open call for volunteers will be published by the Commission on the Product Environmental Footprint and the Organisation Environmental Footprint sites, inviting companies, industrial and stakeholder organisations in the EU and beyond to participate in the development of product-group specific and sector-specific rules.

For more information see here.