We reviewed the environmental wording GreenLeaf uses across its website, cup labels and social media. Your story is genuinely good — paper cups, FSC-certified board, a real industrial-compost option — but the wording overstates it in ways that become a liability under the EU’s ECGT Directive from 27 September 2026, and one claim (“plastic-free”) appears to be factually incorrect given the PLA lining.
Every environmental or “green” claim on your public channels was identified, rated against the ECGT and related packaging rules (PPWR), and matched to the evidence that would substantiate it. For each, we give a compliant rewrite and the specific proof to hold on file.
This review covers: claims wording and the evidence path. It does not provide: legal sign-off, certification, or a life-cycle assessment. Where a claim is high-stakes, we flag it for a lawyer or accredited body — see §6.
| Your claim | Rating | The issue | Check against |
|---|---|---|---|
| “eco-friendly” | High risk | Generic green term — banned unless specific & proven. | Recognised ecolabel or specific attribute evidence. |
| “100% compostable” | High risk | Absolute; misleading — only the cup body composts industrially, and only via EN 13432 facilities. | EN 13432 cert covering all components (body, lid, lining). |
| “biodegradable” | High risk | Vague — no timeframe/conditions; often restricted. | Remove; rely on certified compostability instead. |
| “plastic-free” | High risk | Appears untrue — the cup has a PLA lining (a bioplastic). | Full material disclosure; correct the claim. |
| “chemical-free” | High risk | Scientifically impossible; treated as misleading. | List specific excluded substances instead. |
| “carbon neutral” | High risk | Offset-based product neutrality claims are banned by the ECGT. | GHG Protocol / ISO 14064 reductions, not offsets. |
| “most sustainable cup” | High risk | Comparative superlative without comparative proof. | Comparative LCA vs named alternatives — or drop. |
| “recyclable / fully recyclable” | Needs proof | Only true where lined cups are actually collected & recycled. | PPWR design-for-recycling + local collection reality. |
| “natural” | Needs proof | Undefined benefit claim. | State material facts (FSC board, fibre source). |
| “responsibly sourced” | Needs proof | Needs a recognised scheme behind it. | FSC / PEFC chain-of-custody certificate. |
| “committed to a zero-waste future” | Needs proof | Forward claim needs a real, measurable plan. | Documented target + date + actions. |
| FSC-certified board | Defensible | Specific, verifiable — good. | Keep FSC certificate current & visible. |
| EN 13432 industrial compostability (body) | Defensible | Real certification — use it precisely. | Cite cert number & scope. |
Same warmth, but specific and provable. Drop-in replacements for your product page and label.
“The eco-friendly choice — 100% compostable and biodegradable, completely plastic-free and chemical-free, kind to the planet and carbon neutral.”
“Made with FSC-certified paper and a plant-based PLA lining. The cup body is certified industrially compostable to EN 13432 (where industrial composting is available). Free from added BPA and PFAS.”
“We make the most sustainable cup on the market — fully recyclable, plant-based, committed to a zero-waste future.”
“A lower-impact cup: renewable paper board and a plant-based lining. Recyclable where local facilities accept lined paper cups. Our goal: 30% less material per cup by 2027 (progress reported yearly).”
What substantiates each kept claim — and what’s still missing. Status reflects what you’ve shared so far.
Add one page — “Our materials & claims” — that lists each claim beside its evidence (FSC number, EN 13432 scope, lining spec). It does three things: satisfies the new rules, reassures the cafés and distributors who now ask, and — written for Google & AI search — helps the right buyers find you. We provide the page copy and the search-optimisation (AEO) as part of delivery.
Green-claims & findability for sustainable brands · prepared for GreenLeaf Paper Cup Co. (sample) · June 2026
hello@[yourbrand].is · Reviewed with input from an environmental specialist · Claims-hygiene support, not legal advice.