"Regulatory Frameworks to Combat Greenwashing", 17 Aug 2023

Background: Today misinformation on product sustainability and greenwashing undermines the transition to more sustainable consumption. It is therefore essential for governments to combat the proliferation of unclear or unregulated information on product sustainability by establishing regulatory frameworks that enable consumers to have confidence in environmental claims.

In 2023, UNEP, the Consumer Information Programme of the 10 Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production(10YFP), with International Climate Initiative(IKI) and the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection(BMUV), published the report Regulatory Frameworks to Combat Greenwashing. This publication seeks to support governments in adopting or improving a regulatory framework that will contribute to the fight against greenwashing.

Based on the analysis of 11 legislations on advertising and marketing practices from a sample of countries belonging to different legal systems (common law and civil law jurisdictions) and different continent (South and North America, Western and Eastern Europe, North and sub-Saharan Africa as well as Asia), this brief identifies discussion points on the regulatory framework against greenwashing. It also provides recommendations on how these instruments could be articulated to align with the UNEP Guidelines for providing sustainability information on products.