Generic Environmental Claims
Broad expressions such as โgreenโ, โeco-friendlyโ or โenvironmentally friendlyโ may not be used without demonstrating the relevant recognised excellent environmental performance.
EU Environmental Claims Verification
Independent Evidence for Credible Environmental Communication
EU ENVIRONMENTAL CLAIMS VERIFICATION
From 27 September 2026, businesses communicating environmental benefits to EU consumers will face strengthened rules intended to prevent greenwashing and improve the reliability of environmental information.
Global Alliance Register supports manufacturers, retailers, energy companies, developers, contractors and service providers through structured environmental-claims assessment and independent verification. We examine whether claims are specific, evidence-based, appropriately qualified and consistent with the underlying technical data, methodologies and implementation plans.
Our objective is straightforward: help organizations communicate environmental performance with confidence while reducing regulatory, reputational and commercial risk.
27SEPTEMBER
2026
2026
THE APPLICATION DATE
Environmental claims are entering a new compliance era.
Directive (EU) 2024/825 strengthens the EU framework governing environmental claims and sustainability labels. Member States were required to transpose the Directive by 27 March 2026, with national measures applying from 27 September 2026.
01 โ WHAT IS CHANGING
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Stronger Protection Against Greenwashing
The strengthened EU consumer framework addresses environmental statements, labels and comparisons that may give consumers a misleading impression about a product, service or business. Organizations should be able to demonstrate exactly what a claim means, which part of the product or activity it covers and what reliable evidence supports it.
Offset-Based Product Claims
Claims based on greenhouse-gas offsetting that present a product as having a neutral, reduced or positive impact on the environment are specifically restricted.
Overstated Scope
A claim should not cover an entire product, service or business when the supporting evidence relates to only one limited feature, activity or stage.
Sustainability Labels
Voluntary sustainability labels must be established by public authorities or based on certification schemes meeting the applicable requirements.
Future Performance
Claims about future environmental performance require clear, objective, publicly available and verifiable commitments supported by a detailed and realistic implementation plan.
Environmental Comparisons
Comparisons require transparent information about the products, suppliers, methodology, data and assumptions used to reach the stated conclusion.
WHY INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION MATTERS
Turn Environmental Ambition into Verifiable Performance
Claims concerning future environmental performance must be supported by measurable, time-bound commitments and a credible implementation plan. The plan should identify targets, milestones, responsibilities, resources, monitoring arrangements and other elements necessary to demonstrate delivery.
Progress must be periodically verified by an independent third-party expert. The verification outcome must then be made available to consumers.
02 โ GAR ENVIRONMENTAL-CLAIMS SERVICES
RISK SCREENING
TECHNICAL EVIDENCE
FUTURE COMMITMENTS
CONTINUING ASSURANCE
CLIMATE COMMUNICATION
COMPARATIVE CLAIMS
LABEL GOVERNANCE
CONSISTENT COMMUNICATION
Verification Built Around the Claim You Intend to Make
GAR defines each engagement around the exact statement, intended audience, communication medium, applicable criteria and supporting evidence. This avoids vague assurance and produces a conclusion that is clear, bounded and technically defensible.
Environmental Claim Screening
An initial review of proposed or existing statements, symbols, imagery, labels and comparative messages to identify potentially vague, unsupported, disproportionate or misleading claims.
Evidence and Substantiation Assessment
Evaluation of technical files, test results, life-cycle information, calculations, certificates, supplier records and other evidence used to support an environmental claim.
Future-Performance Plan Verification
Independent assessment of net-zero, emissions-reduction, renewable-energy, circularity, resource-efficiency and other future commitments against implementation plans, milestones, resources and monitoring arrangements.
Periodic Progress Verification
Scheduled verification of reported progress against environmental targets, including performance data, control processes, deviations, corrective actions and revised forecasts.
Carbon and Climate Claim Review
Technical assessment of carbon, emissions and renewable-energy claims, including boundaries, baselines, methodologies, value-chain coverage and the treatment of carbon credits.
Comparative Environmental Assessment
Review of claims stating that a product, service or organization is cleaner, lower-carbon, more efficient, more recyclable or otherwise environmentally preferable to an alternative.
Sustainability Label and Scheme Review
Assessment of voluntary sustainability labels and supporting certification arrangements against applicable transparency, independence, monitoring and governance expectations.
Marketing and Technical File Consistency
Comparison of website content, packaging, advertisements, tenders and corporate communications with the evidence contained in the organizationโs substantiation file.
THE VERIFICATION FILE
What GAR Examines
Depending on the claim and agreed verification criteria, the assessment may cover the following evidence and controls.
Claim wording and intended meaningProduct, service and geographic boundaries
Baselines, assumptions and reference periodsData sources and calculation controls
Materiality and life-cycle relevanceTesting and measurement evidence
Supply-chain and third-party informationEnvironmental data governance
Targets, milestones and allocated resourcesRoles, responsibilities and accountability
Progress monitoring and corrective actionQualifications and consumer disclosures
03 โ THE GAR VERIFICATION PROCESS
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From Claim Definition to a Defensible Verification Outcome
Define the Claim and Intended Use
Establish the exact statement, communication channel, audience, product scope, geographic market and intended use of the verification outcome.
Determine the Applicable Criteria
Identify relevant EU and national requirements, standards, programme rules, contractual requirements and agreed client-defined criteria.
Review the Substantiation File
Examine supporting data, calculations, tests, methodologies, assumptions, management controls and implementation arrangements.
Conduct Technical Verification
Perform document review, interviews, data tracing and, where appropriate, remote or site-based verification activities.
Resolve Findings
Record material discrepancies, unsupported elements, required qualifications and corrective actions that must be addressed.
Issue the Verification Outcome
Provide an independent report or statement identifying the claim, criteria, boundary, verification approach, limitations and conclusion.
Monitor Continuing Performance
Where required, periodically verify progress and determine whether the claim continues to be supported by current evidence.
04 โ CLAIMS AND VERIFICATION CRITERIA
One Methodology Does Not Fit Every Environmental Claim
Climate & Energy
- Greenhouse-gas emissions
- Carbon-footprint claims
- Net-zero commitments
- Renewable or low-carbon energy
- Energy-efficiency improvements
Materials & Circularity
- Recycled or renewable content
- Recyclability and reusability
- Repairability and durability
- Waste reduction
- Circular-resource claims
Resources & Supply Chains
- Water consumption
- Resource efficiency
- Sustainable materials
- Responsible sourcing
- Supply-chain improvements
Standards-Informed Verification
Depending on the claim, intended use and agreed criteria, GAR may draw upon applicable legislation, programme rules and relevant frameworks, including:
Directive (EU) 2024/825ISO 14020ISO 14021:2026ISO 14024ISO 14025ISO 14040ISO 14044ISO 14064 SeriesISO 14065ISO 14067ISO/IEC 17029
The applicable criteria are confirmed for each engagement. Reference to a standard does not by itself mean that a verification statement is accredited or issued under a particular certification scheme.
05 โ PRIORITY SECTORS
Environmental Claims Across Complex Industries
GAR combines environmental-claims assessment with practical knowledge of asset-intensive projects, industrial operations and international supply chains.
Power & Utilities
Renewable-energy, low-carbon generation, emissions-reduction, energy-efficiency, storage, transition-plan and operational-performance claims.
Construction & Real Estate
Low-carbon buildings, sustainable materials, energy performance, circular construction, embodied carbon and project environmental commitments.
Oil & Gas
Methane reduction, lower-carbon operations, emissions intensity, carbon management, transition projects and environmental-performance targets.
Manufacturing
Product footprint, resource efficiency, recycled content, cleaner production, waste reduction and supply-chain improvement claims.
Retail & Consumer Products
Packaging, product attributes, labels, recyclability, durability, sourcing and comparative environmental claims communicated to consumers.
Transportation & Logistics
Fleet emissions, alternative fuels, energy efficiency, lower-carbon services and future environmental-performance commitments.
06 โ WHY GLOBAL ALLIANCE REGISTER
Technical Assurance Beyond Marketing Language
Independent Perspective
Verification is conducted with defined impartiality and conflict-of-interest safeguards.
Technical Depth
Claims are assessed against engineering, environmental, testing and performance evidence.
International Reach
GAR coordinates competent resources across facilities, projects and international supply chains.
Sector Competence
Our approach reflects the realities of energy, infrastructure, construction and industrial operations.
Defensible Outcomes
Every conclusion defines what was assessed, against which criteria, within what boundary and with which limitations.
CLEAR SERVICE BOUNDARIES
Verification Without Overstatement
Not every environmental claim is subject to a mandatory third-party verification requirement. Under Directive (EU) 2024/825, the explicit periodic independent-verification requirement applies particularly to claims concerning future environmental performance. Other environmental claims remain subject to applicable substantiation, transparency and anti-greenwashing requirements.
GAR confirms the applicable criteria, scope and status for each assignment. A service is described as accredited only where the specific verification activity is delivered within a confirmed accreditation scope. Verification does not replace legal advice or the traderโs responsibility for the claims it communicates.
Global Alliance Register
Independent Evidence for Credible Environmental Communication
Engage Global Alliance Register for independent expertise, technical assurance and practical support tailored to your EU Environmental Claims Verification needs.
Discuss Your EU Environmental Claims Verification Needs