
Trademarks and the risk of greenwashing: EU plans new regulation against companies making false green claims
Increased awareness by consumers and their need to be informed not only of the origin of the goods, but also of other characteristics of the goods and/or services has led companies to search for more ways to showcase their commitment to ecological products, recycling, and sustainability. This pressure, however, has also led to an increase in deceptive and misleading product advertisements. The European Commission has found that 53% of sustainability claims made in 2020 were “vague, misleading or provided unfounded information about products’ environmental characteristics.” [1] Brands are expected to experience more regulatory pushback against greenwashing practices in upcoming years.