What the label says vs. what it actually means. Browse the most common sustainability claims below.
Carbon neutral
Usually means: Often: kept polluting, bought offsets to cancel it on paper.
Holds up? Rarely, for products.
Look for instead: An absolute cut in real emissions (Scopes 1–3), not neutrality bought after the fact. (Since September 27, 2026, EU rules ban product claims like “carbon neutral” that rely on offsets.)
Net zero
Usually means: A long-term target to balance emissions to about zero.
Holds up? Only with a dated plan and deep real cuts, not mostly offsets.
Look for instead: Interim targets and Scope 3 included.
Compostable
Usually means: Breaks into compost — usually only in an industrial facility, not your backyard or a landfill.
Holds up? Depends.
Look for instead: “Industrial vs. home compostable,” and whether facilities exist near you.
Biodegradable
Usually means: Breaks down eventually, under unstated conditions — often meaningless in a landfill.
Holds up? Weak on its own.
Look for instead: A standard + timeframe + environment (e.g., “marine biodegradable in X days”).
Recyclable / 100% recyclable
Usually means: The material can be recycled — not that it will be, or that anyone near you accepts it.
Holds up? Often misleading.
Look for instead: “Recyclable where facilities exist” and How2Recycle-style detail.
Regenerative agriculture
Usually means: Farming that aims to rebuild soil and store carbon.
Holds up? Promising but loosely defined and rarely verified.
Look for instead: Outcomes measured (soil carbon, biodiversity), not just the word.
Plant-based / bio-based
Usually means: Made partly from plants — not automatically low-impact or compostable.
Holds up? Depends.
Look for instead: The percentage bio-based and its end-of-life.
Scope 1, 2, 3
Usually means: Your direct emissions (1), your energy (2), and everything up/down your supply chain (3, usually biggest).
Holds up? It’s a framework, not a claim.
Look for instead: Whether Scope 3 is included — leaving it out can hide most of a company’s footprint.
Carbon offsets
Usually means: Paying someone else to cut or store carbon on your behalf.
Holds up? Quality varies wildly; many do not deliver.
Look for instead: Cuts first, offsets last, and high-integrity, verified credits.
“Natural” / “eco-friendly” / “green”
Usually means: Marketing words with no legal definition.
Holds up? Almost never on their own.
Look for instead: A specific, verifiable claim behind the adjective. (Since September 27, 2026, the EU bans generic claims like “green” and “eco-friendly” unless they’re backed by recognized certification.)
Circular / circularity
Usually means: Designed to be reused, repaired, or remade instead of trashed.
Holds up? Real when there is an actual take-back or recycled-content loop.
Look for instead: The loop that actually closes.
PFAS-free
Usually means: No “forever chemicals” added.
Holds up? Genuinely meaningful for health and compostability.
Look for instead: Third-party testing, not just a label.
General information to help you ask better questions, not legal advice. Want help checking your own claims? Book a call.