The proposed directive on empowering consumers for the green transition would allow consumers to know how long a product is designed to last for, and how or if it can be repaired. In addition, the new rules will protect consumers against misleading or false environmental claims by banning greenwashing claims related to the durability of a product. The proposal aims to address the most common relevant unfair commercial practices, such as the early obsolescence of goods, misleading environmental claims, and non-transparent and non-credible sustainability labels.

The Council of the EU and European Parliament adopted their negotiating positions on the proposed directive in May. The Council’s suggested modifications include to introduce an EU harmonised graphic format to help consumers recognise commercial guarantees of durability. Parliament proposed a new guarantee label to indicate the length of the legally required guarantee and also the length of any possible guarantee extensions offered by producers.

Cullen International's full analysis presents the different positions of the Commission, Council and Parliament, underlining the most important modifications.

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