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All prohibited terms
Mandatory substantiation

„Water-neutral"

UWG § 5, UCPD i.d.F. EmpCo (EU 2024/825)

What does it mean?

The term "water-neutral" suggests that a company or product causes no net water consumption. Under EU Directive 2024/825 (EmpCo) and German UWG § 5, such a blanket claim without concrete substantiation is misleading. Whilst there is no direct prohibition as with "climate-neutral", EmpCo tightens the requirements for the burden of proof. Companies must demonstrate that they have measurably reduced their water consumption and that they compensate for the remaining amount through transparent replenishment projects in water-stressed regions. Pure offsetting without reduction is legally risky and may constitute a misleading commercial practice.

Typical phrasings

Required evidence

Rechtsgrundlage (Originalwortlaut)

Anhang I Nr. 4a UCPD (i.d.F. EmpCo) — generische Umweltaussage ohne anerkannte Nachweise

Quelle: Richtlinie (EU) 2024/825 (EmpCo) — verbindlich ist ausschließlich die im Amtsblatt der Europäischen Union veröffentlichte Fassung.

DEDeutsch (amtlich, DE-Fassung Amtsblatt)aufklappen
„Treffen einer allgemeinen Umweltaussage, wobei der Gewerbetreibende die anerkannte hervorragende Umweltleistung, auf die sich die Aussage bezieht, nicht nachweisen kann."
ENEnglish (Official Journal, EN version)aufklappen
„Making a generic environmental claim for which the trader is not able to demonstrate recognised excellent environmental performance relevant to the claim."
FRFrançais (Journal officiel, version FR)aufklappen
„Présenter une allégation environnementale générique au sujet de laquelle le professionnel n'est pas en mesure de démontrer l'excellente performance environnementale reconnue en rapport avec l'allégation."
NLNederlands (Publicatieblad, NL versie)aufklappen
„Het maken van een generieke milieuclaim zonder dat de handelaar erkende voortreffelijke milieuprestaties kan aantonen die relevant zijn voor de claim."
Volltext bei EUR-Lex öffnen

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General information, not legal advice

Empcora is a pure checking and documentation service and provides general information only on the legal situation based on the EmpCo Directive (EU 2024/825) and the unfair-competition / consumer-protection law transposing it in your jurisdiction including references. This is not individual legal advice and includes neither the rewriting nor the drafting of texts. No liability or warranty is assumed for the correctness, completeness or up-to-dateness of the analysis, nor for any legal consequences. The legal assessment of an individual case rests with an admitted law firm or lawyer.