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EmpCo is here: Is Your Organisation’s Consumer-Facing Messaging Compliant? [Get the updated guide]
EmpCo Compliant sustainability communications for destinations, events, and tourism businesses.
17 ViewsOur refreshed guide explores what tourism and events’ organisations need to know about the EU’s new green-claims rules
The EU’s Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive (EmpCo), enforced fromSunday 27the September, brings new rules to tackle environmental claims that could mislead consumers. It applies to organisations based in or doing business in the European Union that target consumers.
For tourism, this means that claims asserting states like “sustainable”, “eco-friendly” or “carbon neutral” need to be clear, specific, and backed up by verifiable, third-party evidence.
A Directive with 27 Different National Transpositions
It’s important to bear in mind that while EmpCo is an EU directive, it’s transposed and enforced at national level. So, while the core rules are shared across the EU, how they’re implemented and enforced can differ from country to country.
Our guide, Proof, Not Promises: A Practical Guide to the EU Empowering Consumers Directive for Destinations has been updated to reflect this
The new section covers all 27 EU Member States, detailing:
- how each country is transposing EmpCo and,
- if they have, what infringement and penalty mechanisms are applicable to tourism organisations
Why This Matters for Tourism Organisations
Under EmpCo, all business-to-consumer (B2C) environmental claims are under scrutiny. Destinations and DMOs must validate marketing claims with evidence. Hotels need to substantiate any eco-label or claim about the likes of energy, waste, or carbon footprint. Tour operators and travel agents should review how they describe the environmental impact of trips and packages, while event organisers need to be careful with claims like “eco-friendly”,”carbon neutral”, or “zero waste.”
Our practical guide helps you understand what can and cannot be said under the new rules and how to build compliant processes into your organisation.
Download our just-updated paper now or contact us for a face-to-face consultation to find out more about how we can support your organisation’s efforts.
