From September 2026 onward, good intentions won’t be enough: climate-related claims must be backed by solid evidence. EmpCo makes unclear or unsubstantiated statements legally vulnerable.
EmpCo regulates all claims that create an impression for consumers about climate impact, environmental performance, resource use, recycling, durability or CO₂ effectiveness.
So in practice:
➤ Anything that sounds good must be demonstrably good from 2026 onward.
➤ And anything that cannot be clearly proven may no longer be communicated.
The legal landscape is shifting in parallel: the Green Claims Directive, stricter court rulings and increasingly vigilant authorities mean that climate and environmental claims will be examined far more closely.
From September 2026, terms such as “environmentally friendly,” “durable,” or “resource-efficient” may only be used if they are verifiably proven. The EmpCo Regulation and the Green Claims requirements demand clear, traceable evidence for what exactly stands behind such claims. If this evidence is missing, the claim is considered misleading — and therefore legally prohibited.
From September 2026, climate-related claims will be handled legally like specific technical performance information. Companies must clearly demonstrate which data, which actions and which results underpin such a claim. EmpCo requires complete documentation before publication. Without this foundation, the claim is not permitted.
From September 2026, it will no longer be sufficient to provide evidence only when requested. EmpCo mandates that all underlying documentation — data, methodology, calculations, sources — must be complete before any claim is published. Without these documents, the claim simply may not be communicated, no matter how small or general it appears.
From September 2026 onward, claims without a solid foundation are no longer seen as “well-intentioned” — they are viewed as deceptive. If data, explanations or verifiable proof are missing, EmpCo classifies the claim as misleading, regardless of whether the mistake was intentional.
Non-compliance with the new requirements can result in legal consequences — from formal warnings and financial penalties to regulatory action. Equally critical: companies risk losing trust if climate or environmental claims fail to deliver what they promise.
For everyone who formulates, approves – or may later be liable for – climate and environmental claims.
Many parts of a company work with climate- or sustainability-related statements, consciously or unintentionally.
With EmpCo, responsibility increases: anyone who creates, reviews or publishes claims must know whether they are compliant.
The check provides exactly this certainty.
Relevant teams:
How the EmpCo-compliant claim verification works.
1. Enter your claim
2. The tool classifies it
3. Add an optional legal opinion
4. Adjust or approve the claim
The check combines legally compliant environmental and climate claims with a consistent CO₂ logic, minimizes EmpCo risks and strengthens the impact of your climate strategy.
You immediately see which statements are permissible — and which are not. This saves time, uncertainty and endless internal loops.
The tool instantly highlights where EmpCo requirements are not met. This prevents errors before they become public.
Transparent, evidence-based statements create credibility — especially in procurement, reporting and compliance.
A validated claim minimizes greenwashing risks and protects against EmpCo violations, complaints and fines.
Many companies are wondering how EmpCo will affect their communication. Here you’ll find the key facts and answers.
The EmpCo Regulation (“Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition”) will govern how companies may communicate environmental and climate-related claims starting in September 2026. It requires clear evidence, bans vague terms without substantiation, and introduces new transparency obligations for products, websites and marketing materials.
Everyone who makes claims about climate, environment or product benefits.
Marketing, communications, sustainability, legal, product management – and ultimately the executive team. Any statement can require verification: on websites, packaging, ads, social media, reports, pitch decks and product data sheets.
Anything that “sounds good” but isn’t backed up.
EmpCo requires proof before publication — not afterwards.
Unclear or unsubstantiated claims are considered misleading.
Possible consequences include:
Warnings and cease-and-desist letters
Fines
Loss of trust among customers and partners
Negative press
Complaints from competition authorities
EmpCo significantly tightens the rules.
Very strict.
Evidence must be available in advance — and must be presented immediately if required.
Estimates, intentions or internal calculations are not sufficient.
CO₂-related claims must align with the company’s climate logic:
Accounting, reduction and residual emissions must be traceable and technically correct. A claim like “CO₂-neutral” is only allowed if the entire process is documented — including verified certificates.
No.
EmpCo requires concrete, verifiable information:
How much was offset? Through which projects? Under which standards? Where is the proof?
General statements like “We offset our emissions” are legally risky.
Three steps:
Inventory your claims – what is being communicated?
Check the evidence – does it exist and is it complete?
Test your claims – with a tool that provides classification + legal review.
This creates certainty — before EmpCo takes effect.
Through our partnership with Long Story Short GmbH & Co. KG, companies gain direct access to EmpCo-compliant claim checking:
Enter your claim → receive the assessment → optionally add a legal opinion.
Fast, transparent and legally reliable.
Examples
CO₂ accounting based on recognised standards
Evidence of reduction measures
Publicly registered CO₂ certificates
Product lifetime documentation
Technical data sheets
External audit reports
Legally compliant labels
Without this evidence, the claim is not EmpCo-compliant.
No.
They are being regulated more strictly, not banned.
Anything that is verifiable, clear and evidence-based remains allowed.
That’s exactly why claim verification is essential.
No.
The tool is designed so anyone on the team can use it — no legal background required.
If you need full legal assurance, a formal legal opinion can be added directly online.
Long Story Short is a specialized platform that makes sustainability standards, norms and legal requirements easy to understand.
Its self-checks reveal where companies stand, which requirements they already meet, and how they can substantiate their climate and environmental claims safely and reliably.
Long-Story-Short.xyz
As the Green Claims Directive and the Empowerment Directive tighten the legal framework for environmental advertising, a thorough review of your marketing claims is essential. natureOffice helps you place your communication on a solid foundation and minimize the risk of legal challenges or sanctions related to misleading environmental claims. We examine statements such as "carbon neutral," "eco-friendly," or "CO₂-reduced" for their substantiation and compliance with the latest court rulings and EU regulations.
Our approach goes beyond mere error prevention: we help you present your actual sustainability performance credibly through transparent data and verified facts (e.g., based on your PCF or CCF). Through independent third-party verification, you protect yourself against greenwashing allegations and strengthen the trust of your customers and partners. With natureOffice, you transform regulatory hurdles into a genuine competitive advantage by demonstrating that your commitment to climate action is built on verifiable facts, not just slogans.
