The recycling symbol on retail packaging is not a sustainability label
News General news
The legislature has decided to implement the European “EmpCo Directive” in Germany. This is intended to prevent “greenwashing” in advertising and misleading practices regarding environmental claims or sustainability labels, and to strengthen consumer protection against misleading practices, as well as promote fair competition in the area of environmentally friendly and sustainable products.
The corresponding amendments to the Unfair Competition Act will take effect on September 27, 2026. However, companies must respond and take action now, as adapting product packaging and planning advertising campaigns require significant lead time.
The joint initiative of dual systems in Germany, Trennhinweis e.V., is drawing attention to this. The initiative welcomes the new regulations but emphasizes in a statement that the “Trennhinweis” symbol for sales packaging—provided free of charge by Trennhinweis e.V.—is not a “sustainability label.” The “Trennhinweis” symbol is therefore not affected by the provisions of the EmpCo Directive.
