Yesterday the European Commission launched its new Green Consumption Pledge, the first initiative delivered under the New Consumer Agenda. The Green Consumption Pledge is part of the European Climate Pact, an EU-wide initiative inviting people, communities and organisations to participate in climate action and build a greener Europe. Several companies have already responded to this initiative, and, by being committed by their signature, they promise to accelerate their contribution to a green transition. The aim is to accelerate the contribution of businesses to a sustainable economic recovery and to build consumer trust in the environmental performance of companies and products.
At the center of The Green Consumption Pledge there is a set of five core pledges. To join it, companies commit to improving their environmental impact and to helping consumers make more sustainable purchases. In this framework, they need to undertake concrete actions in at least three of the five pledge areas, and they also need to prove their progress with data that they then make public.
The five core pledge areas are the following:
- Calculate the carbon footprint of the company,
- Calculate the carbon footprint of selected flagship products of the company,
- Increase the sale of sustainable products or services,
- Commit part of the corporate public relations expenditure to the promotion of sustainable practices,
- Ensure information provided to consumers in relation to the company and product carbon footprints is easy to access, accurate, and clear.
The Green Consumption Pledge initiative focuses on non-food products and it is complementary to the Code of Conduct launched on 26 January as part of the Farm to Fork strategy.
Any company from the non-food sectors, as well as companies in the retail sector selling both food and non-food products, interested in joining the Green Pledge can contact the European Commission before the end of March 2021. This initial pilot phase of the Green Consumption Pledge will be completed by January 2022.
For more information please contact Ioannis Sidiropoulos or your usual contact in Elias Neocleous & Co LLC.
