11 september 2026
As of 27 September 2026, new rules on sustainability information for consumers will apply across the European Union. The Directive Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition (EmpCo) aims to better protect consumers against greenwashing and other misleading information.
Companies must be able to support sustainability claims in a clear, verifiable and well-founded manner. Sustainability labels may also not be used without proper justification: consumers must be able to understand what a label means and what it is based on. The rules apply to the way products are presented to consumers, for example on packaging, websites and in advertising. As RHP logos may appear on products and packaging, RHP has assessed the impact of EmpCo on the RHP Consumer quality mark and the RPC and RPP labels.
The RHP Consumer quality mark stands for product quality and safety. It doesn't make any sustainability claims and therefore falls outside the scope of EmpCo. Users can continue to apply the quality mark in the same way as before.
The RPC label stands for Responsibly Produced Coir. Although the label includes a sustainability claim, it is currently outside the scope of EmpCo because it is not yet used on consumer packaging. Should the application of the label change in the future, RHP will reassess the applicable requirements.
The situation is different for the RPP label (Responsibly Produced Peat). The term “responsibly produced” refers to sustainability and therefore brings the label within the scope of EmpCo. RHP has thoroughly assessed the criteria and control procedures within the RPP scheme against the requirements of EmpCo. The critical point within the scheme is the verification of the Chain of Custody, which is carried out by an RPP staff member. As this doesn't meet the EmpCo requirements regarding independent assessment, an additional verification framework has been introduced. As of this year, completed Chain of Custody inspections are reviewed by an independent external expert. With this additional safeguard in place, RHP is confident that the RPP label is fully aligned with the EmpCo Directive.
Do you use an RHP logo on a consumer product, packaging, website or any other commercial communication? If so, please ensure that the logo is used in accordance with the applicable RHP conditions and avoid suggesting a broader sustainability claim than is actually supported by the quality mark or label.
