Compliance guides · 13/05/2026 · 5 min
Sustainability labels: which ones remain allowed after 2026?
Public schemes, third-party certification, self-declarations: what Directive 2024/825 accepts and bans.
The ban on uncertified labels
Displaying a sustainability label not based on a certification scheme or not established by public authorities is now unfair in all circumstances.
What counts as a certification scheme
A third-party verification system that is open, transparent, with defined requirements and compliance monitoring. Examples: EU Ecolabel, COSMOS, FSC, PEFC, GOTS, EU Organic.
In-house logos and ‘commitments’
A brand-made pictogram (‘Green Promise’, ‘Eco-committed’) without external certification falls under the ban, however sincere.
Display best practices
Show the label with certificate number, validity date and a link to the standard. Schedule an alert before expiry: an expired certificate makes the claim misleading.
FAQ
Is a private sector label accepted?+
Yes if it relies on verifiable third-party certification.
Can we keep an internal logo as a graphic element?+
Only if it suggests no environmental performance.
What to do when a certificate expires?+
Remove or update the claim immediately; EmpCo alerts at D-90, D-30 and D-7.