Greenwashing Blog 2026: EmpCo News & Court Rulings

Practical knowledge on greenwashing, EmpCo compliance and risk-aware environmental communication. Latest court rulings, EmpCo interpretation and best-practice cases for SMEs and advertising agencies.

October 27, 2026

Warning Wave 2025: Greenwashing in the Crosshairs of the Consumer Advice Centre

The Consumer Advice Centre is increasing warnings due to greenwashing. Find out which claims are particularly dangerous and how you can protect yourself.

September 26, 2026

EmpCo Directive: SME Guide for Implementation

The EU EmpCo Directive (2024/825) from 27 September 2026: What marketing decision-makers need to know and implement now to advertise in a legally compliant manner.

September 26, 2026

Greenwashing Cases: 10 Examples from Germany

Greenwashing examples from Germany: Which claims are legally problematic? Analysis for marketing managers with court rulings & certifications.

September 20, 2026

EmpCo Compliance: 20 Checkpoints for Your Online Shop

Prepare your online shop for the EmpCo Directive (2024/825). 20 concrete checkpoints for product detail pages, filters & newsletters.

May 20, 2026

EU Green Claims Directive: Preparing for 2027

The EU Green Claims Directive (GCD) will tighten the rules for environmental claims from 2027. What companies need to do now to avoid fines.

May 20, 2026

Greenwashing Insurance: Purpose & Limits from 2026

From 27 September 2026, the EmpCo Directive tightens liability for misleading environmental claims. What insurance products exist and what do they actually cover?

May 12, 2026

Fashion Greenwashing 2026: Using GOTS, Fairtrade, GRS Correctly

Fashion industry 2026: ✓ GOTS organic cotton ✓ Fairtrade Textile ✓ GRS-Recycled → How to advertise in compliance with EmpCo!

May 9, 2026

Hotels in 2026: Green Key instead of own eco-labels

Hotels EmpCo-compliant: ✓ Green Key ✓ EU Ecolabel ✓ Travelife → Which hotel seals will really matter from 2026.

May 5, 2026

Banking 2026: SFDR + EmpCo — Double Regulation for “Green” Funds

Fund marketing 2026: ✓ SFDR Article 8/9 ✓ EU Taxonomy ✓ EmpCo → How banks can comply with double requirements.

April 30, 2026

OLG Düsseldorf: Regional only within 100 km

OLG Düsseldorf: Claims of domestic production are misleading if the goods come from more than 100 km away.

April 28, 2026

Automotive Plants 2026: “Climate Neutral Production” — What’s Still Permitted?

Automotive and EmpCo: ✓ Genuine Scope 1 reduction ✓ Green electricity ✓ SBTi → How manufacturers can still advertise their plants.

April 22, 2026

Food EmpCo Checklist 2026: 12 Points

EmpCo checklist for food manufacturers 2026: 12 points for packaging, advertising, online shop.

April 22, 2026

Food in 2026: “Regional” ≠ “Sustainable” — a clear separation

Food advertising 2026: ✓ Correctly substantiate “regional” ✓ Combine “organic + Fairtrade” → EmpCo-compliant statements.

April 18, 2026

EmpCo & Fashion Retail: Risks for Online Shops from 2026

EmpCo obligations for fashion online shops: risk of fines, legally sound product descriptions and practical recommendations for marketing managers.

April 18, 2026

Packaging in 2026: “Compostable” Only with EN 13432

Packaging compliance 2026: ✓ EN 13432 ✓ EN 17427 ✓ DIN CERTCO → Which standard applies when.

April 14, 2026

Advertising Agencies in 2026: Liability for Greenwashing Copy of Clients

Agency liability 2026: ✓ Who is liable for what ✓ Contract clauses ✓ Disclaimer → Risk management for agencies.

April 12, 2026

Energy Suppliers 2026: Tariff Advertising under EmpCo

Energy tariffs and EmpCo 2026: Green electricity, biogas, heat — what remains permitted in advertising.

April 10, 2026

Carbon Neutral Alternatives: How to Phrase it Correctly

“Carbon neutral” is prohibited — what should you write instead? 15 substantiated wording alternatives for your website.

April 10, 2026

EmpCo Deadline September 2026: What Needs to Happen by Then

EmpCo Countdown: 5 months until the deadline of 27 September 2026. Timeline, checklist and immediate actions for your company.

April 10, 2026

Making Your Website EmpCo-Compliant: A Step-by-Step Guide

Make your website EmpCo-compliant in 8 steps: audit, remove claims, gather evidence, adjust wording. A practical guide. 10 April 2026.

April 8, 2026

BGH Katjes Ruling 2024: Is Climate Neutral Still Allowed?

BGH ruling I ZR 98/23 on Katjes climate neutral: ✓ What it means ✓ Consequences for advertising in 2026 → Find out now!

April 8, 2026

Influencer Marketing 2026: Posts are also EmpCo-relevant

Influencers and EmpCo 2026: ✓ Sponsored posts ✓ Affiliate links ✓ Advertising disclaimer → What brands need to consider now.

April 5, 2026

Automotive Advertising 2026: Electric, Diesel, Hybrid

Automotive and EmpCo: Zero Emission, climate neutral, hybrid — what remains permitted for electric and combustion vehicles. 5 April 2026.

April 2, 2026

Natural Cosmetics 2026: COSMOS Standard instead of “natural”

Cosmetics and EmpCo 2026: ✓ COSMOS Natural ✓ NATRUE ✓ BDIH → Which natural cosmetics seals are reliable.

March 28, 2026

SFDR Funds 2026: Greenwashing Prevention for Financial Advisors

SFDR Article 8/9 Funds and Greenwashing 2026: EmpCo connection, risks, compliance.

March 28, 2026

Tourism 2026: “Carbon Neutral Flights” are Dead – What Happens Instead?

Travel industry and EmpCo: ✓ Atmosfair Gold ✓ CORSIA ✓ SAF → How tourism providers can still advertise about climate action.

March 24, 2026

Printing companies 2026: FSC vs. PEFC — which standard when?

Printing compliance 2026: ✓ FSC Mix ✓ PEFC ✓ Blauer Engel UZ-72 → Which standard for which application.

March 20, 2026

Netherlands ACM: A Model for German Consumer Protection

Dutch ACM tackles greenwashing: H&M €250k fine, Decathlon — How Germany is taking note.

March 19, 2026

Energy Suppliers 2026: How to Advertise Green Electricity Tariffs Correctly

Energy suppliers and EmpCo: ✓ GoO ✓ TÜV SÜD EE02 ✓ ok-power → How green electricity tariffs are advertised in compliance with the law.

March 15, 2026

Furniture Industry 2026: FSC Licence Number is Mandatory – Not Just the Logo

Furniture and EmpCo 2026: ✓ FSC C-licence number ✓ PEFC ✓ Blauer Engel → How to advertise furniture legally compliant.

March 15, 2026

Genuine Environmental Proofs 2026: ISO, EU Ecolabel, FSC & Co.

Which environmental seals still count from 2026: ✓ ISO 14001 ✓ EU Ecolabel ✓ Blauer Engel ✓ FSC → Complete list with requirements!

March 12, 2026

Deutsche Umwelthilfe 2026: Understanding the Litigation Strategy

DUH Litigation Strategy 2026: Industry focus, procedural tactics — assess the risk realistically.

March 10, 2026

AI Rephrasing 2026: Workflow for Marketing Teams

AI-powered EmpCo rephrasing: ✓ Pre-Check ✓ Bulk Rephrasing ✓ Review Process → Practical guide.

March 5, 2026

EmpCo Budget 2026: Realistic Figures by Size

EmpCo Compliance Budget 2026: SMEs, medium-sized enterprises, corporations — Realistic cost frameworks.

March 5, 2026

Wettbewerbszentrale 2026: Strict Control of Greenwashing

Wettbewerbszentrale Bad Homburg is actively pursuing greenwashing. ✓ Current proceedings ✓ What you can do → Prepare now!

March 5, 2026

Wettbewerbszentrale 2026: The 5 Most Frequent Greenwashing Cases

Wettbewerbszentrale and EmpCo: ✓ Top 5 cases ✓ Procedure ✓ Settlement rates → What you need to know.

March 1, 2026

GDPR + EmpCo 2026: Where the Obligations Overlap

GDPR and EmpCo: ✓ Personalised Marketing ✓ Tracking ✓ Newsletters → How to cleanly separate the two regulations. 1 March 2026.

February 26, 2026

Social Media + EmpCo: Formulating Posts and Stories Correctly

Social Media and EmpCo 2026: Instagram, LinkedIn, Influencers — How to make posts EmpCo-compliant.

February 24, 2026

Pharma 2026: HWG, EU 1924/2006 and EmpCo — The Triple Advertising Regulation

Pharma advertising in 2026: ✓ HWG ✓ Health Claims Regulation ✓ EmpCo → Which advertising rules apply to medicinal products, food supplements and cosmetics.

February 20, 2026

CSRD vs. EmpCo: What You Need to Know in 2026

Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) vs. EmpCo: ✓ Who is affected ✓ Differences → Plan strategically now!

February 18, 2026

Cleaning Agents 2026: “Biodegradable” Only with OECD 301

Cleaning compliance 2026: ✓ EU Ecolabel ✓ OECD 301 ✓ Blauer Engel → Which standard justifies which claim.

February 15, 2026

Logistics 2026: Is Carbon Neutral Shipping at an End?

Shipping claims 2026: DHL GoGreen, DPD, GLS — what still works under EmpCo.

February 12, 2026

Toys 2026: EN 71 is Mandatory – What More is There?

Toys and EmpCo: ✓ EN 71 (mandatory) ✓ GS mark ✓ FSC wood → Which standards can additionally be used for marketing purposes.

February 8, 2026

EmpCo Compliance for Agencies: White-Label Solutions

Agencies can create white-label compliance reports for clients from 2026 using Empcora. Efficient multi-account management & risk minimisation.

February 8, 2026

SME Guide to EmpCo 2026: Pragmatic in 5 Weeks

SME Guide to EmpCo: ✓ 5-Week Plan ✓ No Legal Fees ✓ Clear Steps → Become EmpCo Compliant Now!

February 2, 2026

Employee Training EmpCo: Workshop Concept

EmpCo employee training: 1-hour workshop, Marketing + Support, practical examples — template.

February 2, 2026

Compliance Monitoring 2026: Daily, Weekly or Monthly?

EmpCo Monitoring 2026: ✓ Scan Frequency Optimisation ✓ Alert Strategies ✓ Re-Audit → Which strategy for which industry.

January 28, 2026

EmpCo international 2026: Properly checking multilingual websites

EmpCo multilingual: ✓ EN/FR/IT/ES/NL synchronised ✓ Translation ≠ reformulation → How to avoid compliance gaps. 28 January 2026.

January 25, 2026

Lawyer for Greenwashing Cease and Desist Letters: Costs + Procedure

Lawyer in case of greenwashing cease and desist letter 2026: Costs, value in dispute, defence strategies — realistically.

January 22, 2026

Startup 2026: EmpCo Compliance on a Small Budget

Startup Compliance 2026: ✓ Free tools ✓ Self-audit ✓ Scaling → EmpCo conformity for bootstrap companies.

January 15, 2026

Concrete Figures in 2026: How to Show Verifiable Data Instead of Claims

EmpCo substantiation 2026: ✓ KPI reporting ✓ Methods sources ✓ Third-party verification → This is how you build reliable data.

January 15, 2026

Recycling Claims 2026: ISO 14021 and Percentage Declaration Requirement

Recycling Claims 2026: ISO 14021, GRS, Percentage Indication — How to correctly advertise with recycled content.

January 8, 2026

Green Claims Directive 2027: What Comes After EmpCo

Green Claims Directive after 2026: EU verification, substantiation obligation — What companies need to know.

December 30, 2025

EmpCo Checklist 2026: Practical List for Marketing Teams

Marketing team checklist: ✓ 25 points per campaign ✓ Pre-Launch ✓ Post-Launch → Quick check for every new marketing action.

December 22, 2025

Fair Wear Foundation: Recognition as Substantiation

Fair Wear Foundation in Fashion 2026: Recognised Seal, Audit Scoring — How to use it correctly.

December 15, 2025

Life Cycle Analysis ISO 14067: Mandatory for Carbon Claims

ISO 14067 LCA for carbon advertising 2026: methodology, system boundary, third-party verification.

December 15, 2025

Social Media 2026: Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok EmpCo-compliant

Social Media Compliance 2026: ✓ Posts ✓ Stories ✓ Reels → How to operate social channels in compliance with EmpCo.

November 8, 2025

SMEs in 2026: Compliance Without Corporate Resources

SMEs and EmpCo 2026: pragmatic compliance, toolkit, step-by-step guide.

October 25, 2025

B2B vs. B2C: Which EmpCo obligations apply when?

EmpCo B2B vs. B2C 2026: consumers vs. businesses, advertising obligations — which rules apply when.

May 19, 2025

Greenwashing Court Statistics 2025: Trends & Prospects of Success

Greenwashing litigation is on the rise. These court statistics for 2025 show which arguments succeed, which certifications count and what companies must now consider.

October 27, 2024

DUH Wave of Claims: Greenwashing Risks for Companies

The DUH is intensifying lawsuits against greenwashing. Which industries are affected, what risks exist, and how you can legally protect yourself.

July 26, 2024

Sustainable Fashion: Why Blanket Eco-Claims Become Actionable from 2026

Blanket "sustainable fashion" claims are legally risky under Section 5 UWG and the EmpCo Directive (EU 2024/825). What fashion and retail marketers must know and do before 27 September 2026.

More helpful sections

Prohibited Terms

Glossary of all per-se prohibited greenwashing terms.

Greenwashing by Industry

Industry profiles with typical claims and risk mapping.

Free Greenwashing Check

Scan your website for EmpCo compliance risks in seconds.

Pricing

Audit plans for SMEs, agencies and enterprises.