The European Commission wants to combat widespread greenwashing in advertising and promote reliable environmental information with a new directive on competition and consumer laws. The goal is to protect consumers from often misleading adverts boasting the environmental benefits of products with labels such as ‘eco’, ‘sustainable’, ‘climate neutral’ or ‘recyclable’.
Increasing numbers of customers are paying attention to products’ environmental compatibility. How can and should businesses draw attention to the environmental benefits of their products? When can a product be described as "water-saving” or “recyclable”, for instance?
Ecodesign is a systematic and comprehensive approach to product design that aims to reduce environmental impacts throughout the entire life cycle of a product through improved product design. During the product planning and design phase, manufacturers can influence every stage of the life cycle and promote ecological innovation.
