How do I have an environmental claim checked so it holds up?

There are three routes, and which one is right depends on what the claim hangs on. Most cases need two of them.

1. Does the evidence support the claim?

This is the question of substance: is there data, and does it say what the claim asserts? Testing and certification bodies handle this. For material properties such as recycled content, recyclability, microplastics or PFAS it can be substantiated through a published certification scheme, and the proof is then verifiable by third parties.

2. Is the wording attackable?

This is the legal question. EmpCo is not enforced by an authority but through competition law: competitors and consumer associations can issue warnings and sue. Anyone who needs a binding sign-off for a campaign goes to a law firm specialising in competition law.

3. Where does something sit that needs assessing at all?

This is the inventory question. With hundreds of product pages an automated scanner helps to find conspicuous wording. It does not replace the first two steps, it tells you where to apply them.

Where to start

With the claims that are already printed or about to be. Packaging layouts need lead time, and from 27 September 2026 the new rules apply with no general transition period.

The free Claim-Check covers the first step: up to five claims placed by hand against the six prohibitions, the requirements for labels and the substantiation duty. You receive a signed assessment report as a PDF within two to three working days.