Compliance guides · 06/05/2026 · 5 min
Greenwashing: legal definition and 12 examples to remove from your website
Greenwashing is no longer a PR issue but a misleading commercial practice. Concrete examples and compliant rewordings.
A definition that is now legal
Greenwashing means presenting a product, service or company as more environmentally virtuous than it really is. Since Directive 2024/825, several forms are explicitly listed as unfair in all circumstances.
The most common wordings
‘100% natural’, ‘eco packaging’, ‘carbon neutral’, ‘planet friendly’, ‘zero impact’, ‘green product’, unqualified ‘biodegradable’, ‘recyclable’ without stream, ‘eco-designed’, ‘sustainable’, ‘committed to the planet’, ‘carbon offset’.
Why they are a problem
They are either generic (no measurable scope), absolute (impossible to prove) or based on offsetting (banned as sole justification). Consumers cannot verify them, so the law presumes deception.
Reword without losing the selling point
Replace the adjective with data: ‘92% ingredients of natural origin, COSMOS certified’, ‘80% recycled cardboard, kerbside recyclable’, ‘emissions down 30% vs 2022, scope 1 & 2, verified by [body]’.
FAQ
Is ‘biodegradable’ banned?+
No, but the claim must state conditions (time, environment, standard) and be proven.
Can we still say carbon neutral?+
Only if it does not rely solely on offsetting and the reduction is demonstrated.
Is an in-house label valid?+
No: only labels based on third-party certification or set by public authorities are allowed.