Poland's Sejm passes anti-greenwashing legislation

The Polish Sejm has passed an amendment to the Act on Counteracting Unfair Market Practices and the Consumer Rights Act aimed at curbing greenwashing. The new regulations seek to prevent companies from using misleading environmental claims to deceive eco-conscious consumers.

Under the proposed law, businesses will be prohibited from using general terms such as ‘ecological’, ‘green’, or ‘environmentally friendly’ unless they can provide credible evidence to support such claims. Environmental labels and marks may only be used if they are verified by a recognized certification system or established by a public institution, effectively banning unverified self-made markings.

The legislation also introduces requirements for transparency regarding product repairability and software update availability, particularly for electronics. The amendment passed the Sejm with 236 votes in favor and 199 against. The bill now moves to the Senate for further consideration.