Purpose
Directive (EU) 2024/825 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 February 2024 amends Directives 2005/29/EC and 2011/83/EU to empower consumers for the green transition through enhanced protection against unfair commercial practices and improved information. Its aim is to ensure consumers can make informed purchasing decisions that contribute to more sustainable consumption patterns and to counter misleading practices such as greenwashing.
Scope of application
The Directive applies to Member States of the European Union, which must transpose its provisions into national law by 27 March 2026 and apply them from 27 September 2026. It covers consumer protection and the regulation of commercial practices, particularly regarding product information on environmental, social and circularity aspects, as well as distance contracts and sales practices.
Main features and mechanisms
- Introduces amendments to the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (2005/29/EC) and the Consumer Rights Directive (2011/83/EU) to explicitly include environmental, social and circularity characteristics among the key product features on which misleading practices can be based.
- Prohibits environmental claims that are not supported by clear, objective, verifiable commitments and realistic implementation plans verified by independent third‑party experts.
- Adds specific commercial practices to the list of unfair practices, such as displaying sustainability labels not based on credible certification schemes or providing misleading information about product durability, reparability or recyclability.
- Prohibits withholding relevant information, for example about negative impacts of software updates on the functionality of products with digital elements, to protect consumers from practices that may reduce product longevity or utility.
- Strengthens the transparency and reliability of information provided by traders and introduces clear information obligations prior to concluding contracts, particularly in distance contracts.