EmpCo Check: Are your green claims still allowed?
Since 27 September 2026, the EmpCo rules apply across the EU, with no transition period. Terms like “eco-friendly” or “climate neutral”, self-made labels and unsubstantiated future promises can now be challenged by competitors and consumer associations.
With the EmpCo Check, we review every environmental and sustainability claim on your website and in your most important PDFs. You get a claims table with a traffic-light rating, alternative wording for every critical claim and a note on which evidence you need. At a fixed price, without a workshop marathon.
- Every environmental claim on your website reviewed
- Traffic-light rating with alternative wording
- Results within 5 working days
- Up to 30 subpages + 3 PDFs
- Claims table with traffic lights (Excel)
- Alternative wording + evidence list
- Short report with top risks
- 30-minute results call
- Results within 5 working days
What you get
After the EmpCo Check, you know which claims to change right away, which ones you can keep with proper evidence and which ones are fine.
- Claims inventory: We capture every environmental and sustainability claim on up to 30 subpages and in up to 3 PDFs (e.g. product data sheet, brochure, sustainability report). Labels, logos and imagery included.
- Traffic-light rating: Every claim is rated red (change), amber (substantiate or specify) or green (no issue), with a reference to the specific rule, such as generic environmental claim, self-made label or offsetting-based claim.
- Alternative wording: A concrete suggestion for every red and amber claim that you can use straight away.
- Evidence list: Which proof you should keep on file for the remaining claims, so you can respond to an enquiry or a cease-and-desist letter.
- Short report: The key risks and quick wins on two to three pages, ready to share with management and marketing.
- Results call (30 min): We go through the red items together and answer your questions.
What the claims table looks like
| Location | Claim | Rating | Reason | Suggestion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homepage | “We produce climate neutral.” | Red | Neutrality claim based on offsetting | “We have cut emissions at our site by 38% since 2020 and also support climate protection projects.” |
| Product page | “Eco-friendly packaging” | Red | Generic environmental claim without specification | “Packaging made from 80% recycled cardboard, FSC certified” |
| Footer | Own “Green Choice” logo | Red | Sustainability label without a certification scheme | Remove the logo or replace it with a recognised label |
| About us | “Net zero by 2035” | Amber | Future claim, only allowed with a published plan and independent monitoring | Link the implementation plan, state interim targets |
| Product page | “Box made from 100% recycled fibres” | Green | Specific, limited to the relevant part, supplier certificate on file | Store the evidence in the evidence list |
Four steps to your results
1. Order and page list
- You order by email and send us your website address and the PDFs to be reviewed.
- We suggest the 30 most relevant subpages, you confirm or add to the list.
2. Capturing every claim
- We systematically extract the pages and documents, AI-assisted, so that no claim is missed.
- We capture texts, labels, logos, product names and image captions.
3. Our assessment
- We check every claim against the EmpCo Directive, the blacklist of banned practices and the European Commission's FAQ.
- We rewrite critical claims and note the evidence required.
4. Results and call
- Within 5 working days you receive the claims table and the short report.
- In a 30-minute call we discuss the red items and next steps.
Who is the EmpCo Check for?
- SMEs and mid-sized companies that promote sustainability, climate action or eco-friendly products on their website
- Marketing and communication managers who need to know quickly where to make changes
- Sustainability managers who need a solid basis for talks with marketing and management
Want to review more than your website, such as social media, catalogues or packaging, and add a workshop with your team? Then our Sustainability Communication Check is the right fit.
The EmpCo Check is a professional review of your communication against the requirements of the EmpCo Directive. It does not replace a legal review of individual cases. For claims we flag red that you still want to keep, we recommend consulting a law firm specialising in unfair competition law.
Write to us at info@csr-tools.com and you will receive an invoice with all payment details. We start as soon as the page list is confirmed.
If you are not satisfied with the EmpCo Check, you get your money back within 30 days, no questions asked.
Who carries out the EmpCo Check?
The EmpCo Check is carried out by Alexander Spahn, founder of CSR Tools. He started his career at the audit and consulting firm Deloitte and today supports companies with sustainability reporting and communication. He is a certified Sustainability Reporting Advisor (EBS University of Business and Law).
CSR Tools has published in-depth guides on the EmpCo Directive, such as EmpCo Directive: everything you need to know now and our analysis of the EU FAQ on green claims.
CSR Tools clients
Frequently asked questions
How much does the EmpCo Check cost?
The EmpCo Check for your website costs €490 plus VAT. It covers up to 30 subpages and up to 3 PDF documents, the claims table with traffic-light rating and alternative wording, a short report and a 30-minute results call.
Is the EmpCo Check legal advice?
No. The EmpCo Check is a professional review of your communication against the requirements of the EmpCo Directive and its national transposition. It does not replace a review by a lawyer. For claims we flag red that you still want to keep, we recommend consulting a law firm.
How long does the EmpCo Check take?
Once we have your order and the list of pages and documents, you receive the results within 5 working days. We schedule the results call right after that.
In which languages can you review my website?
We review websites in German and English. Our assessment is based on the EmpCo Directive (EU) 2024/825 and the European Commission's FAQ. For country-specific rules outside Germany and Austria, please involve a local lawyer for red-flagged claims.
What if my website has more than 30 pages?
Together we select the 30 pages with the most environmental claims, usually the homepage, sustainability page, product pages and About us. For larger websites, online shops or additional channels such as social media, we prepare an individual quote.
Related offers
All channels covered: analysis report, benchmark against competitors and a 2-hour workshop for credible sustainability communication.
Prefer to check yourself? We compare free and paid EmpCo scanners, checks and label databases.
Send us your website address and we will get back to you within one working day with the page list and the invoice.