Greenpeace and Ökobüro lodge EU complaint over Austria's three-year greenwashing grace period

Greenpeace and the Ökobüro have lodged a complaint with the European Commission, contending that Austria's national transposition of the EU's anti-greenwashing legislation includes a three-year grace period for goods already produced, which they say undermines the EU's objectives. The Empowering Consumers (EmpCo) directive seeks to eliminate deceptive environmental marketing by mandating evidence-based claims, certified sustainability seals, a narrower definition of climate neutrality, and prohibitions on false durability and reparability statements.

Greenpeace references a study by Linz-based EU law expert Franz Leidenmühler, which finds the Austrian provision incompatible with EU law. The complaint calls on Economic Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer to revise the law to align with EU requirements and eliminate the transition period. Greenpeace's spokesperson Ursula Bittner described the directive as a milestone in the fight against greenwashing, while criticizing the Austrian government's approach.