Empowering Consumers for the
Green Transition Directive (ECGT or EMPCO)

The Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition (ECGT) Directive is a landmark law designed to eliminate greenwashing. Effective September 27, 2026, any company marketing or selling products or services to EU consumers—regardless of where the company is headquartered—must comply with strict new rules regarding sustainability labels and environmental claims. 

One of the main goals of the ECGT is to empower a consumer at the moment they are making a decision—standing in a store aisle, looking at a product, or scrolling on a website. The directive is designed to eliminate the ambiguity of standalone environmental logos.

Under ECGT, 1% for the Planet is considered a “sustainability label” and a “certification scheme.” ECGT requirements take effect on September 27, 2026 and apply to any products or services marketed or sold to EU-based consumers.

Key ECGT requirements:

• Ban on Unverified Labels: The directive bans displaying any sustainability label that is not based on a certification scheme or established by a public authority.
  
  • ‍The 1% for the Planet logo is a label that is based on a certification scheme‍
• Publicly Available Information: Before using a label, a trader (i.e. a business) must ensure the certification scheme's terms are publicly available.
  • Our Certification & Vetting Standard (CVS) is publicly available and can be found in the  section below. The CVS comprehensively details the member certification requirements and impact partner vetting standards, along with the administrative standards of our model. Membership Agreements for company and product-line membership are also available.
• Transparency and Credibility: The scheme must meet minimum conditions of transparency and credibility, including the incorporation of expert and stakeholder feedback.
  • The information and links on this page, further supported by the comprehensive Certification and Vetting Standard that will be released in September, ensure that 1% for the Planet is a transparent and credible scheme.

• Non-compliance procedures
  
  • 1% for the Planet strictly enforces the certification requirements outlined in the Certification & Vetting Standard and membership agreement (both linked below under Resources). Section 2 of the membership agreement describes the licensing terms granted to participating members; Section 3 of the agreement outlines the causes for, and procedures around, termination.
• Mandatory Third-Party Monitoring: The scheme must have objective monitoring of compliance carried out by an independent third party.
  
  • 1% for the Planet has appointed BSI Group as our exclusive independent verification body. BSI is an ISO/IEC 17065 accredited certification body that provides objective, third-party monitoring of our members' compliance with our certification standards.

What ECGT means for 1% for the Planet Members selling or marketing to consumers in the EU:

• Third-Party Certification Auditing is required: Under the directive, all sustainability labels must be based on a certification scheme that is monitored by an independent third party. Members must opt-in to third-party auditing on an annual basis in the member portal.

• Properly use the correct 1% for the Planet logo: Effective September 27, 2026, members selling or marketing to consumers in the EU must use the “certified” 1% for the Planet logos in accordance with the updated logos & guidance for members selling or marketing to EU consumers. These logos ensure ECGT compliance by 1) providing a URL that links directly to this page, which outlines for consumers and regulatory bodies how the 1% for the Planet certification scheme is compliant, and 2) these updated logos clearly identify that a business or product line has in fact fulfilled 1% for the Planet certification requirements.
  
  It is the business member’s responsibility to correctly implement 1% for the Planet Brand & Logo Guidelines in order to be compliant. But, here are some key requirements to consider: 
  ‍
  
  • The 1% FOR THE PLANET CERTIFIED BUSINESS (or CERTIFIED PRODUCT, as applicable) logo upholds the highest standard for global compliance and is the only logo that should be used on packaging, marketing materials and at point of sale within the EU. 
  • 1% for the Planet Business Members can only use the 1% FOR THE PLANET CERTIFIED BUSINESS (or CERTIFIED PRODUCT, as applicable) logo once they’ve certified a fiscal year.

• Ban on Generic Claims: The EU now prohibits broad, non-specific environmental claims—such as "environmentally friendly," "green," or "sustainable"—on products or in marketing unless the business can prove the product meets the highest possible environmental standards recognized by the government. Because these terms are often too vague to be verified, we recommend avoiding them entirely and instead using specific, fact-based language about your 1% for the Planet certification.
  
  Since the 1% for the Planet certification verifies a financial commitment—not the product or business’ environmental footprint—it is crucial that businesses adhere to the following marketing best practices:‍
  
  • Avoid Prohibited Claims: Do not use vague, sweeping terms without separate, detailed and verifiable evidence. These are often generic and are explicitly prohibited under the ECGT Directive.‍
    
  • Focus on Action and Specificity: When communicating your commitment, be precise. Always use language that highlights the verified financial action and its destination: ‍
    
    • USE: "This product supports our commitment to contribute 1% of annual sales to verified environmental solutions, as certified by 1% for the Planet."‍
      
    • AVOID: "This sustainable, eco-friendly product supports our 1% contribution."
  • The ECGT Directive aims to combat greenwashing by regulating generic, non-verified claims by businesses. To avoid potential penalties and legal fees, use only claims that are specific and true to your 1% for the Planet commitment. Here are a few examples of compliant language: 
    
    • BEFORE FIRST CERTIFICATION: [Business Name] commits 1% of our annual revenue to support vetted impact partners through 1% for the Planet.
    • BEFORE FIRST CERTIFICATION: We just joined 1% for the Planet! We have committed to directing 1% of our revenue annually to vetted impact partners supporting people and the planet.
    • AFTER CERTIFICATION: We are a 1% for the Planet Certified Business. We contribute 1% of our annual revenue to vetted impact partners supporting the planet.

• Key takeaways from the European Commission ECGT Q&A:
  
  • See question 18 for information regarding how the new rules apply to existing products.
  • B2B vs. B2C: The Q&A confirms that the Directive is strictly limited to Business-to-Consumer (B2C) practices. If you are strictly B2B (selling to other businesses), you have significantly more flexibility, as these rules do not apply to B2B communications. See Question 1 in the linked European Commission Q&A.
    

• High Stakes: Under the ECGT, the Member business is legally responsible for its claims. Misleading claims can result in substantial penalties, including maximum fines of at least 4% of annual turnover in relevant EU Member States. 1% for the Planet members should review the ECGT Directive and consult their legal counsel regarding regulations that affect their business. 

• Note: Volunteer Rate Transition Policy (Through Dec. 31, 2026): To support members who planned annual contributions prior to the updated model release, legacy rates may be requested for volunteer hours completed and submitted in the Member Portal on or before December 31, 2026. To request this, contact your Account Manager or email membership@onepercentfortheplanet.org. Effective January 1, 2027, the three-tier location-based valuation model (outlined in the Certification and Vetting Standard) will apply to all volunteer time submissions without exception.
  
  • Certification and Vetting Standard: The operational framework governing how our global network mobilizes, verifies, and certifies high-integrity environmental contributions. Serving as the official rulebook for both members and impact partners, this document defines the criteria for network entry, contribution eligibility, and ongoing compliance. Went into effect September 14, 2026. (Information about our certification standard prior to September 14, 2026 can be found here).
    
• 1% for the Planet Logos & Brand Guidelines‍
• Public Directory of active members and impact partners
• Public Compliance & Reporting Intake Form: Use this form to report potential misuse of the 1% for the Planet sustainability mark, non-compliance with our Certification Standard, or unverified environmental claims made by member businesses in connection with our mark.
  Upon submission, you will receive an automatic email confirmation, and our compliance team will investigate the issue through our objective review procedure. If a violation is substantiated, the business will be required to take corrective action within 30 days. Failure to comply will result in formal suspension or complete revocation of 1% for the Planet logo rights and potential legal enforcement. You will receive an automated notification once the review is formally closed.
• Whole Company Membership Agreement: our standard Membership Agreement
• Product Line Membership Agreement: our Membership Agreement for business that participate with just a specific product line(s)
• Marketing your Giveback Program in the EU webinar‍
• Membership dues chart: our tiered dues structure, which scales according to a member’s revenue size
• Certification & Vetting Standard Expert & Stakeholder Consultation Record: In accordance with EU Directive 2024/825 (ECGT) transparency requirements for official sustainability certification schemes, the 1% for the Planet Certification and Vetting Standard was refined through an open, multi-year consultation process between 2023 and 2026. To ensure scheme neutrality and technical and legal rigor, standard revisions were informed by structured external engagements across four primary stakeholder cohorts: technical and credit market bodies, business and enterprise members, governance and regulatory advisors, and environmental stakeholders.
• ‍Informational ECGT one-pager for brands selling or marketing in the EU
• Third-party certification auditor information: 1% for the Planet has appointed BSI Group as our exclusive independent verification body. BSI is an ISO/IEC 17065 accredited certification body that provides objective, third-party monitoring of our members compliance with our certification standards. Members must opt-in to third-party auditing annually in the member portal.