{"id":13341,"date":"2026-07-01T14:48:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T12:48:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/everwave.de\/ready-for-empco-with-plastic-credits\/"},"modified":"2026-07-23T10:43:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T08:43:09","slug":"empco-eu-directive-against-greenwashing","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/everwave.de\/en\/empco-eu-directive-against-greenwashing\/","title":{"rendered":"EmpCo: EU Directive Against Greenwashing"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tEmpCo:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\tEU Directive Against Greenwashing <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Starting in September 2026, the EmpCo Directive will introduce new requirements for environmental and sustainability claims in the EU. In the future, companies will be required to provide concrete evidence to support their environmental claims. General terms such as \u201cgreen\u201d or \u201csustainable\u201d will no longer be permitted\u2014what matters are verifiable facts and transparent impact. <\/p>

With everwave\u2019s Plastic Credits, companies are already laying the groundwork for EmpCo-compliant sustainability reporting: Each Plastic Credit is fully documented and individually traceable. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Verifiable. Transparent. Traceable. <\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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What is the EmpCo policy?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The EU is stepping up its measures against greenwashing and misleading environmental claims.<\/p>

Starting September 27, 2026, stricter requirements will apply to environmental claims that companies make to consumers. With the EmpCo Directive (\u201cEmpowering Consumers for the Green Transition\u201d), the EU is establishing clear rules for more transparent sustainability communication: General statements such as \u201cenvironmentally friendly,\u201d \u201cecological,\u201d or \u201csustainable\u201d may no longer be used without supporting evidence. <\/p>

Environmental claims must be measurable, verifiable, and supported by reliable information. Companies are required to transparently report the actual impact of their sustainability measures. <\/p>

The EmpCo Directive is part of the European Green Deal and strengthens consumer protection by combating greenwashing and misleading environmental and social claims.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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What Does the EU Greenwashing Directive Mean for Businesses?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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With the EmpCo Directive, the EU is setting new standards for sustainability reporting.<\/p>

In the future, companies will no longer be allowed to make blanket environmental claims; instead, they must back up statements such as \u201csustainable,\u201d \u201cenvironmentally friendly,\u201d or \u201cgreen\u201d with concrete evidence.<\/p><\/blockquote>

The goal of the directive is to better protect consumers from misleading environmental claims and to curb greenwashing.<\/p><\/blockquote>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Sanctions and Enforcement <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Violations of the new regulations can have significant legal and financial consequences for companies. Enforcement often begins with a warning letter under competition law issued by competitors or consumer protection organizations. If no action is taken in response, legal action such as preliminary injunctions or injunctive relief may follow. <\/p>

The financial risk is particularly significant: In cases of serious and cross-border violations, authorities can impose fines of up to<\/b> 4% of annual revenue<\/b>. Under certain circumstances, claims for damages may also arise. <\/p>

Enforcement of the new rules will be easier, as certain misleading practices on the so-called \u201cblacklist\u201d are automatically considered unfair. In these cases, there is no need for a time-consuming review of each individual case. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Prepare your company for EmpCo:<\/b> <\/p>

Identifies critical environmental claims before the EmpCo guideline takes effect. Our AI audit tool scans your website for environmental claims. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGo to the EmpCo Check<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Ready for EmpCo: With Plastic Credits from everwave<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Our Plastic Credits combine tangible environmental impact with transparent documentation. They meet the requirements of the EmpCo guidelines and are based on plastic waste that has actually been collected. <\/span><\/span><\/p>

One Plastic Credit represents 1 kg of waste that has been collected from rivers and waterways around the world, sorted, and processed. Companies make a measurable impact with Plastic Credits\u2014because Plastic Credits meet the EmpCo requirements: <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tFull Traceability\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tEvery Plastic Credit is based on actual plastic waste that has been collected. The waste is documented and recorded with its exact coordinates right at the collection site. This makes it possible to track where the plastic was collected, when the collection took place, and how much was collected.
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tTransparent Documentation\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAfter collection, the materials are sorted, processed, and prepared for further processing at the everwave Zero-Waste Centers. Every single processing step is digitally documented and recorded in an internal tracking system. This ensures complete documentation and prevents double counting.
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tIndividual Identification\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tEach Plastic Credit is assigned its own unique ID. This allows each Credit to be tracked, verified, and documented individually. As a result, its impact can be traced and audited at any time.
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This is how Plastic Credits meet the requirements<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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<\/p>

  • Verifiable Environmental Performance: Documented Collection and Processing<\/b> of Plastic Waste <\/li><\/ul>
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    • Transparency: complete documentation<\/b> of all process steps <\/li><\/ul>
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      • Traceability: Geodata, Collection Sites, and Individual Credit IDs <\/b> <\/li><\/ul>
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        • Measurability: Tracking of every quantity of plastic collected and processed, with no double counting<\/b><\/li><\/ul>
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          • Credible Communication: Evidence<\/b> Instead of General Environmental Promises<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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            Get advice now<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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            The transition period is underway. Learn how your company can achieve measurable impact with Plastic Credits and prepare for the requirements of the EmpCo Directive. <\/span><\/p>\n

            Schedule your consultation here: <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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