The European Commission has initiated infringement proceedings against 20 Member States. From Brussels„ perspective, the Directive on empowering consumers for the green transition has not been fully transposed into national law. The directive is particularly relevant for the packaging industry because it introduces new requirements for environmental claims and sustainability statements on packaging.
Directive (EU) 2024/825 aims to improve the reliability and transparency of environmental claims and sustainability labelling. The objective is to curb greenwashing and better inform consumers about the durability, reparability, and warranty rights of products. In the future, companies will have to provide clearer evidence for sustainability claims.
New regulations for packaging labels
For manufacturers and brand name manufacturers, the directive has immediate implications for packaging design. Environmental claims and sustainability labels are coming under greater regulatory scrutiny. The EU aims to prevent consumers from being misled by unclear or unsubstantiated environmental claims.
The specifications are considered an important building block of the European Green Claims Regulation. Packaging is one of the most visible communication surfaces for sustainability messages. Accordingly, companies must review and, if necessary, adapt their claims and labelling.
Austria among 20 affected states
Member States were required to transpose the directive into national law by 27 March 2026. According to the Commission, Austria and 19 other EU states have not yet communicated full transposition.
The Commission has therefore, according to its own statements, sent so-called letters of formal notice. The Member States concerned now have two months to demonstrate full implementation. Otherwise, the authority may initiate the next step in the infringement procedure and issue a reasoned opinion.
For the packaging industry, this increases the pressure to prepare early for the stricter requirements on environmental and sustainability claims – regardless of when the national implementation is completed in the individual member states.
Source: EU Commission
