Ban on misleading advertisements and general, unsubstantiated claims regarding environmental protection

The proposal envisages a ban on the use of general statements such as "environmentally friendly," "natural," "biodegradable," "climate-neutral," or "eco" if they are not substantiated by detailed evidence. Members of Parliament foresee the use of labels related to sustainable development only if they are based on official certification systems or established by public authorities.

Artificially reducing the lifespan of products will be prohibited

The directive aims to extend the lifespan of products. This means that manufacturers will not be able to design products that break immediately after the warranty period. Additionally, products should function properly with interchangeable parts and consumables from other manufacturers. Consumers should be informed about any repair limitations before making a purchase. Furthermore, lawmakers propose a new warranty label that indicates not only the duration of the warranty but also whether the manufacturer can extend it and for how long. This would help emphasize the quality of goods and motivate companies to focus more on product durability.

The next steps

Negotiations between the Parliament and the Member States on the final content of the directive may soon begin. It is part of the first package related to the circular economy. The same package also includes, among other things, a regulation on construction products and a report on sustainable textile products.